EverStart Series News - Challenge Bass Championship

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Lytle Wins EverStart Challenge Bass
Tournament On Beaver Lake, Nets $45,000
ROGERS, Ark.--(BW SportsWire)--Oct. 30, 1999--Curt Lytle of
Suffolk, Va., boated five bass weighing 15 pounds, 13 ounces on Beaver
Lake today to win the EverStart Batteries Challenge bass championship
and $45,000 in cash and prizes.

Lytle survived two elimination rounds of competition earlier this
week to top a field of 150 professional anglers en route to his
victory. In today's final round, he edged out four other finalists to
win $20,000 in cash and an Evinrude-powered Ranger boat. The win also
gives Lytle priority entry into the $4.4 million, 2000 Wal-Mart FLW
Tour - the most lucrative professional bass fishing series in history.
"This tournament has been amazing for me," Lytle says. "I was
able to catch a limit the first day. Then the second day, I was able
to rest the fish I was going after, and I found a spot I'd never
fished before and caught another limit."

Lytle says he discovered a pattern that allowed him to catch a
limit each day. He caught most of his fish flippen' a jig around logs
on round bends in major coves. But he caught his biggest fish of the
day, a 5-pounder, flippen' around a dock.

Preston Havens of Mountain Home, Ark., took second place and
$20,000 in the championship round with a three bass stringer weighing
6 pounds, 14 ounces.

Rounding out the top five places in the Pro Division are: (3)
Keith Smith of Crystal Springs, Miss., four fish, 5-15, $18,000; (4)
Jack Graham of Hindsville, Ark., three fish, 2-8, $16,000; and (5)
David Cooke of Davidson, N.C., one fish, 2-2, $14,000.

Frank Divis Sr. of Fayetteville, Ark., caught two bass weighing 2
pounds, 14 ounces yesterday to win the Co-Angler Division and collect
$10,000.

The EverStart Batteries Series consists of eight regular season
events - four in the Eastern Division and four in the Central Division
- and two EverStart Challenge tournaments. The Challenge events, one
per division, feature the same format as Wal-Mart FLW Tour events,
where the pro and co-angler fields are cut to the top 10 after two
days. Co-angler competition ends after the third day of competition,
with only the top five pros competing on the final day.

Each of the EverStart Challenge events is filmed for a future
television segment that will air on ESPN 2. The Central Division event
will air Dec. 19-20, 1999, at noon EST on ESPN 2.

The 2000 EverStart Series will include two divisions with four
qualifying events each and will culminate with the EverStart
Championship. The tentative schedule for 2000 is as follows: Central
Division - March 8-11, Sam Rayburn, Jasper, Texas; March 29 - April 1,
Beaver Lake, Rogers, Ark.; May 3-6, Kentucky Lake, Gilbertsville, Ky.;
June 7-10, Ft. Gibson Lake, Wagoner, Okla. Eastern Division - Jan.
5-8, Lake Okeechobee, Clewiston, Fla.; Feb. 2-5, Lake Martin,
Alexander City, Ala.; March 1-4, Lake Santee, Cooper Manning, S.C.;
April 5-8 Lake Cumberland, Somerset, Ky. EverStart Series Invitational
Challenge (top 75 from each division) November 8-11, Winter Haven
Chain, Cypress Gardens, Winter Haven, Fla.

Sponsors of the EverStart Series include: EverStart Batteries,
CITGO, Evinrude Outboards and Electrics, Ranger Boats, Black and
Decker, Land O' Lakes, Chevy Trucks, Wal-Mart, Coca Cola, Coleman,
Eveready Flashlights, Mitchell Rods and Reels, Spiderwire, Uniroyal,
US Bank VISA, Wrangler, Wheaties, Chex Mix, and Hamburger Helper.

DAY 4 STANDINGS
EverStart Challenge: Rogers, Ark., Oct. 30, 1999

Pro Division
Rank Name City, State Caught Weight Winnings
1 CURT LYTLE SUFFOLK, VA 5 15 13 20000.00
2 PRESTON HAVENS MOUNTAIN HOME, AR 3 6 14 20000.00
3 KEITH SMITH CRYSTAL SPRINGS, MS 4 5 15 18000.00
4 JACK GRAHAM HINDSVILLE, AR 3 2 8 16000.00
5 DAVID COOKE DAVIDSON, NC 1 2 2 14000.00

Five Anglers Advance to Final Round in
EverStart Bass Challenge on Beaver Lake; Arkansas Anglers Dominate
Co-Angler Division
ROGERS, Ark.--(BW SportsWire)--Oct. 29, 1999--After three days of
competition in the EverStart Batteries Challenge bass tournament on
Beaver Lake, all but five of the 150 Pro Division anglers have been
eliminated. The five anglers will advance to tomorrow's final round,
where the heaviest one-day catch determines who wins the first place
award of $20,000 cash, an Evinrude-powered Ranger bass boat, and
priority entry into the 2000 Wal-Mart FLW Tour - professional
fishing's most lucrative series.

"It's about as tough as it gets out there," says Jack Graham of
Hindsville, Ark., who finished with today's best catch of four fish
weighing 9 pounds, 13 ounces. "Today, I didn't have a fish until 11
a.m. I need to find the early bite tomorrow."

Also advancing to the final round in the Pro Division are Curt
Lytle of Suffolk, Va., with 8 pounds, 8 ounces; Preston Havens of
Mountain Home, Ark., with 8 pounds, 5 ounces; Keith Smith of Crystal
Springs, Miss., with 7 pounds, 10 ounces; and David Cooke of Davidson,
N.C., with 7 pounds, 6 ounces.

Co-angler competition ended today with Frank Divis Sr. of
Fayetteville, Ark., taking top honors and $10,000 cash with only two
fish weighing 2 pounds, 14 ounces. Three other Arkansas anglers also
finished in the top five.

"It was a tough day today," Divis says. "I was fortunate to get
the bites I had."

In 1999, the EverStart Series awarded anglers $1.7 million in
cash and prizes. The series also provides a pathway for top bass
anglers to the prestigious $4.4 million, seven-event Wal-Mart FLW Tour
professional bass fishing series. The EverStart Challenge champion,
winners from each of the EverStart Series regular season events, and
the top 10 finishers from the Series' East and Central Divisions,
receiving priority entry.

Tomorrow's final round weigh-in begins at 3:30 p.m. at the
Rogers, Ark., Wal-Mart Supercenter located at 2110 West Walnut. A
Family Fun Zone featuring seminars from pro anglers, ESPN 2 television
taping, Elliot Sandler's CITGO race car, and a children's trout pond
will be open to the public beginning at noon.

DAY 3 STANDINGS
EverStart Challenge: Rogers, Ark., Oct. 29, 1999

Pro Division
------------

Rank Name City, State Caught Weight Winnings
---- ---- ----------- ------ ------ --------
1 JACK GRAHAM HINDSVILLE, AR 4 9 13 0
2 CURT LYTLE SUFFOLK, VA 5 8 8 0
3 PRESTON HAVENS MOUNTAIN HOME, AR 4 8 5 0
4 KEITH SMITH CRYSTAL SPRINGS, MS 5 7 10 0
5 DAVID COOKE DAVIDSON, NC 3 7 6 0
6 BRENT W HARGIS HUNTSVILLE, AR 5 7 4 12000.00
7 WESLEY STRADER SPRING CITY, TN 4 4 12 10000.00
8 BUB TAYLOR TONTITOWN, AR 3 3 7 9000.00
9 RICKEY H CLUNN AVA, MO 2 2 13 8000.00
10 JOHNNY LANKFORD SPRINGDALE, AR 0 0 0 7000.00

Co-Angler Division
------------------

Rank Name City, State Caught Weight Winnings
---- ---- ----------- ------ ------ --------
1 FRANK SR DIVIS FAYETTEVILLE, AR 2 2 14 10000.00
2 CHARLES RIPPY LIVINGSTON, TX 1 2 13 5500.00
3 MARTIN WHITAKER HENSLEY, AR 2 1 15 4500.00
4 TOM SZWANKOWSKI HOPE, AR 1 1 12 4000.00
5 MARK KING BOONEVILLE, AR 0 0 0 3600.00
6 CHRIS NICOLL NIXA, MO 0 0 0 3200.00
7 KENDALL ANDERSON SPERRY, OK 0 0 0 3000.00
8 CARY LODL SCRIBNER, NE 0 0 0 2800.00
9 DELAYNE CASTOR VERONA, MO 0 0 0 2600.00
10 WAYNE REMINGTON LINCOLN, NE 0 0 0 2400.00

Field Narrowed to top 10 in EverStart
Series Bass Tournament on Beaver Lake; Arkansas Anglers Dominate Field
ROGERS, Ark.--(BW SportsWire)--Oct. 28, 1999--The field for the
lucrative EverStart Batteries Challenge on Beaver Lake has been
narrowed to the top 10 pro and co-anglers for the second round of
competition, with five of the top spots in the Pro Division going to
Arkansas anglers. Rickey Clunn of Ava, Mo., leads the Pro Division
with a two-day total of 10 bass weighing 21 pounds, 3 ounces, and Mark
King of Booneville, Ark., leads the Co-Angler Division with a two-day
total of 10 bass weighing 12 pounds, 2 ounces.

Weights from the first round of competition, however, do not
carry over to subsequent rounds, so anglers in both divisions will
once again be on a level playing field, with the pros vying for a
five-fish stringer that will propel them into Saturday's final. Only
the top five pro competitors, based the weight of tomorrow's catch,
advance to the final round for a shot at winning $20,000 cash, an
Evinrude-powered Ranger bass boat, and priority entry into the 2000
Wal-Mart FLW tour.

"I've been catching nine or 10 keepers each day trying to get a
good limit," Clunn says. "I hope to do the same thing tomorrow. I
figure it will take 8 pounds to make the top five, so that's my goal."

Co-angler competition ends after tomorrow's round, with the
angler holding the heaviest one-day, five-fish catch receiving $10,000
cash.

The EverStart Challenge, which is the culmination of the
second-year EverStart Batteries Series Central Division, features some
of the nation's top professional anglers competing in a four-day
elimination style tournament. The format for the Challenge is
identical to the Wal-Mart FLW Tour series also run by Operation Bass,
headquartered in Gilbertsville, Ky. During the first two days of
competition, the full field of 150 pro-anglers and 150 co-anglers
compete for the heaviest two-day total weight, with the top 10 anglers
from each division advancing to the second round on day three. Weight
totals from the first round do not carry over to round two. At the
conclusion of day three, the top five pros advance to the final round
where the winner is determined by the total weight of that day's
catch.

During the final round, each contestant is paired with an ESPN 2
camera crew. ESPN 2 is filming the EverStart Challenge as part of the
Wal-Mart FLW Tour television series, which will air Dec. 19-20, 1999,
at noon EST on ESPN 2.

Friday's EverStart Challenge weigh-in begins at 5 p.m. at the
Rogers, Ark., Wal-Mart Supercenter located at 2110 West Walnut.
Saturday's final weigh-in and ESPN 2 television taping begins at 3:30
p.m. A Family Fun Zone featuring seminars from pro anglers, ESPN 2
television taping, fishing exhibits, Elliot Sandler's CITGO race car,
and a children's trout pond will be open to the public beginning at
noon on Saturday.

DAY 2 STANDINGS
EverStart Challenge: Rogers, Ark., Oct. 28, 1999

Pro Division
------------
Rank Name City, State Day 1 Day 2 Total Winn-
---- ---- ----------- ----- ----- ----- ings
-----
1 RICKEY H CLUNN AVA, MO 12 1 9 2 21 3 0
2 WESLEY STRADER SPRING CITY, TN 13 2 5 12 18 14 0
3 BRENT W HARGIS HUNTSVILLE, AR 9 1 9 0 18 1 0
4 CURT LYTLE SUFFOLK, VA 9 9 8 3 17 12 0
5 BUB TAYLOR TONTITOWN, AR 7 9 9 0 16 9 0
6 JOHNNY LANKFORD SPRINGDALE, AR 5 10 10 13 16 7 0
7 JACK GRAHAM HINDSVILLE, AR 9 0 7 7 16 7 0
8 PRESTON HAVENS MOUNTAIN HOME, AR 7 2 9 2 16 4 0
9 DAVID COOKE DAVIDSON, NC 10 11 5 3 15 14 0
10 KEITH SMITH CRYSTAL SPRINGS, MS 6 7 9 3 15 10 0
11 RUFUS JOHNSON STRAWBERRY PLNS, TN 6 3 8 9 14 12 6000
12 KEITH BRASHERS ROGERS, AR 7 7 6 11 14 2 5000
13 JOE PAPCZNSKI LOWELL, AR 7 9 6 4 13 13 4000
14 GORDAN HARRIMAN HUNTSVILLE, AR 4 14 8 13 13 11 3600
15 GREG RYAN NIXA, MO 5 15 7 7 13 6 3200
16 JOHN SAPPINGTON WYANDOTTE, OK 7 0 6 5 13 5 2800
17 JOE GUNDEL SELIGMAN, MO 9 3 4 0 13 3 2800
17 GREG CARPENTER ROYAL, AR 5 13 7 6 13 3 2800
19 EDDIE WOODY NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR 5 10 7 7 13 1 2800
20 GREG BOHANNAN SPRINGVILLE, AR 9 14 2 14 12 12 2800
21 NICKY PARSONS FARMINGTON, AR 6 8 5 9 12 1 2400
22 SHAWN T STRADER ROCKWOOD, TN 8 7 3 7 11 14 2400
23 JEFF COOK ROGERS, AR 6 8 5 5 11 13 2400
23 BROOKS ROGERS LONGVIEW, TX 7 14 3 15 11 13 2400
25 MIKE MCCLELLAND SPRINGDALE, AR 7 10 4 0 11 10 2400
26 TOBY HARTSELL GROVE, OK 5 7 6 1 11 8 1800
27 BRIAN SNOWDEN SPRINGFIELD, MO 8 5 2 15 11 4 1800
28 JAMES JR NUCKOLS ROCKWOOD, TN 6 15 4 3 11 2 1800
29 AL FISHER HACKETT, AR 2 9 8 3 10 12 1800
29 R. RICHARDSON CALHOUN, LA 4 9 6 3 10 12 1800

Co-Angler Division
------------------

Rank Name City, State Day 1 Day 2 Total Winn-
---- ---- ----------- ----- ----- ----- ings
----
1 MARK KING BOONEVILLE, AR 5 4 6 14 12 2 0
2 CHRIS NICOLL NIXA, MO 5 0 6 4 11 4 0
3 MARTIN WHITAKER HENSLEY, AR 4 9 6 8 11 1 0
4 KENDALL ANDERSON SPERRY, OK 3 11 5 13 9 8 0
5 FRANK SR DIVIS FAYETTEVILLE, AR 4 6 4 2 8 8 0
6 CARY LODL SCRIBNER, NE 4 9 3 14 8 7 0
7 DELAYNE CASTOR VERONA, MO 7 4 1 1 8 5 0
8 TOMMY SZWANKOWSKI HOPE, AR 0 9 7 2 7 11 0
9 CHARLES RIPPY LIVINGSTON, TX 1 6 6 5 7 11 0
10 WAYNE REMINGTON LINCOLN, NE 6 2 1 4 7 6 0
11 W D (HOOT) GIBSON BRYANT, AR 0 0 6 10 6 10 2200
12 MURPHY JR DOWNING HERNANDO, MS 4 7 2 0 6 7 2000
13 RICK A SAYRE ROGERS, AR 3 8 2 14 6 6 1800
14 GENE PURDY BENTONVILLE, AR 3 15 2 1 6 0 1600
15 SHANNON MCCLELLANDBELLA VISTA, AR 3 7 2 5 5 12 1400
16 RICKY WATKINS SPRINGDALE, AR 5 11 0 0 5 11 1200
17 WILLIAM T SMITH SUGAR LAND, TX 5 9 0 0 5 9 1200
17 RICK GLASS PEA RIDGE, AR 3 7 2 2 5 9 1200
19 MILES JOHNSON KETTERING, OH 1 11 3 13 5 8 1200
20 SAM STACY VICKSBURG, MS 2 13 2 9 5 6 1200
21 RICK ROBERTS JAY, OK 5 3 0 0 5 3 1000
21 NED WARD PRESCOTT, AR 0 0 5 3 5 3 1000
21 RONNIE JR HOPKINS BIXBY, OK 3 4 1 15 5 3 1000
24 TIM E LAND EMMET, AR 0 0 5 2 5 2 1000
25 TODD LEE JASPER, AL 4 14 0 0 4 14 900
25 JAMES BETTLE AMELIA, OH 2 4 2 10 4 14 900
27 STUART ARTHUR WAUKESHA, WI 0 0 4 13 4 13 800
28 BRENT MAURER KEVIL, KY 2 9 2 1 4 10 800
29 JOHN OGLE ROGERS, AR 2 12 1 13 4 9 800
30 ALLEN COLLINS OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 1 0 3 8 4 8 800

Tennessee's Strader Takes Opening Day
Lead in EverStart Challenge Bass Meet On Beaver Lake; Anglers Competing For $288,200
ROGERS, Ark.--(BW SportsWire)--Oct. 27, 1999--Wesley Strader of
Spring City, Tenn., landed five bass weighing 13 pounds, 2 ounces,
including the big bass of the day, which tipped the scales at 6
pounds, 4 ounces, during opening round action of the lucrative
EverStart Challenge bass tournament on Beaver Lake to lead the Pro
Division. The event, which is the culmination of the second-year
EverStart Batteries Series Central Division, features 150 professional
and 150 co-anglers competing in a four-day elimination style
tournament for $288,200 in cash and prizes.

Strader is competing for one of 10 slots available in the second
round of competition that begins Friday. After round two, the field of
pro anglers is cut to the top five competitors who will then advance
to Saturday's final round for a shot at winning $20,000 cash, an
Evinrude-powered Ranger bass boat, and priority entry into the 2000
Wal-Mart FLW Tour series. Co-angler competition concludes after
Friday's second round action, with the winner receiving $10,000. The
total purse in the Pro Division is $191,800 plus a Ranger boat, and
the total purse in the Co-Angler Division is $66,400.

Delayne Castor of Verona, Mo., is leading the Co-Angler Division
with five bass weighing 7 pounds, 4 ounces.

The format for the EverStart Batteries Challenge is identical to
the Wal-Mart FLW Tour series also run by Operation Bass, headquartered
in Gilbertsville, Ky. During the first two days of competition, the
full field of pro anglers and co-anglers compete for the heaviest
two-day total weight, with the top 10 anglers from each division
advancing to the second round on day three. Weight totals from the
first round do not carry over to round two. At the conclusion of day
three, the top five pros advance to the final round where the winner
is determined by the total weight of that day's catch.

The EverStart Series consists of eight regular season events -
four in the Eastern and four in the Central Division - and two
EverStart Challenge tournaments. The EverStart Challenge champion;
winners from each of the EverStart Series regular season events; and
the top 10 finishers from both divisions, based on pounds and points
for the year, will receive priority entry into the 2000 Wal-Mart FLW
Tour - featuring a record $4.4 million in cash and prizes.

Thursday's EverStart Challenge weigh-in begins at 3 p.m. at
Prairie Creek Marina. The Friday and Saturday weigh-ins begin at 5
p.m. and 3:30 p.m. respectively at the Rogers, Ark., Wal-Mart
Supercenter located at 2110 West Walnut. A Family Fun Zone featuring
seminars from pro anglers, ESPN 2 television taping, Elliot Sandler's
CITGO race car, and a children's trout pond will be open to the public
beginning at noon on Saturday.

DAY 1 STANDINGS
EverStart Challenge: Rogers, Ark., Oct. 27, 1999

Pro Division

Rank Name City, State # Bass Weight
---- ---- ----------- ------ ------
1 WESLEY STRADER SPRING CITY, TN 5 13 2
2 RICKEY H CLUNN AVA, MO 5 12 1
3 DAVID COOKE DAVIDSON, NC 5 10 11
4 GREG BOHANNAN SPRINGVILLE, AR 5 9 14
5 CURT LYTLE SUFFOLK, VA 5 9 9
6 JOE GUNDEL SELIGMAN, MO 5 9 3
7 BRENT W HARGIS HUNTSVILLE, AR 5 9 1
8 JACK GRAHAM HINDSVILLE, AR 5 9 0
9 SHAWN T STRADER ROCKWOOD, TN 4 8 7
10 BRIAN SNOWDEN SPRINGFIELD, MO 5 8 5
11 ALLEN ARMOUR DALLAS, GA 4 7 15
12 BROOKS ROGERS LONGVIEW, TX 5 7 14
13 MIKE MCCLELLAND SPRINGDALE, AR 5 7 10
14 BUB TAYLOR TONTITOWN, AR 5 7 9
14 JOE PAPCZNSKI LOWELL, AR 5 7 9
16 KEITH BRASHERS ROGERS, AR 5 7 7
17 BILL NANCE MADISON, MS 3 7 4
17 MARK SABBIDES SPRINGFIELD, MO 4 7 4
19 PRESTON HAVENS MOUNTAIN HOME, AR 5 7 2
20 JOHN SAPPINGTON WYANDOTTE, OK 5 7 0
20 GLEN RHODES HINDSVILLE , AR 5 7 0
22 JAMES JR NUCKOLS ROCKWOOD, TN 3 6 15
23 JEFF COOK ROGERS, AR 5 6 8
23 NICKY PARSONS FARMINGTON, AR 5 6 8
25 KEITH SMITH CRYSTAL SPRINGS, MS 5 6 7
26 JIM TUTT LONGVIEW, TX 5 6 5
27 GENE KINCY FT SMITH, AR 5 6 3
27 RUFUS JOHNSON STRAWBERRY PLNS, TN 5 6 3
29 GREG RYAN NIXA, MO 5 5 15
29 CHRIS JOHNSON FARMINGTON, AR 5 5 15

Co-Angler Division

Rank Name City, State # Bass Weight
---- ---- ----------- ------ ------
1 DELAYNE CASTOR VERONA, MO 5 7 4
2 WAYNE REMINGTON LINCOLN, NE 2 6 2
3 RICKY WATKINS SPRINGDALE, AR 2 5 11
4 WILLIAM T SMITH SUGAR LAND, TX 4 5 9
5 MARK KING BOONEVILLE, AR 5 5 4
6 RICK ROBERTS JAY, OK 5 5 3
7 CHRIS NICOLL NIXA, MO 3 5 0
8 TODD LEE JASPER, AL 4 4 14
9 CARY LODL SCRIBNER, NE 3 4 9
9 MARTIN WHITAKER HENSLEY, AR 2 4 9
11 MURPHY JR DOWNING HERNANDO, MS 3 4 7
12 FRANK SR DIVIS FAYETTEVILLE, AR 4 4 6
13 JASON HOWARD LONDON, KY 4 4 2
14 GENE PURDY BENTONVILLE, AR 3 3 15
15 RICKY REYNOLDS SPRINGDALE, AR 2 3 13
16 KENDALL ANDERSON SPERRY, OK 3 3 11
17 KENNETH GALLOWAY SPRINGDALE, AR 2 3 10
18 DAVID SHELTON GREEN FOREST, AR 3 3 8
18 RICK A SAYRE ROGERS, AR 2 3 8
18 W. YOUNGBLOOD GREEN FOREST, AR 1 3 8
21 RICK GLASS PEA RIDGE, AR 2 3 7
21 S. MCCLELLAND BELLA VISTA, AR 2 3 7
23 RONNIE JR HOPKINS BIXBY, OK 2 3 4
24 RALPH MYHLHOUSEN COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA 3 3 1
24 LLOYD BLOCK CARUTHERSVILLE, MO 2 3 1
26 CHUCK LAWLESS TAHLEQUAH, OK 2 3 0
27 LEALLEN CRABB MALVERN, AR 2 2 15
28 SAM STACY VICKSBURG, MS 2 2 13
28 CRAIG TORKLESON MANNFORD, OK 3 2 13
30 MITCH GLENN GARFIELD, AR 3 2 12
30 JOHN OGLE ROGERS, AR 1 2 12

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