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Copyright 1999 

North Carolina's Walser Wins Everstart
Challenge On Kerr, Nets $45,000
HENDERSON, N.C.--(BW SportsWire)--Sept. 11, 1999--Robert Walser
of Lexington, North Carolina, took first place in the $283,200
EverStart Batteries Bass Challenge with a five bass catch weighing 22
pounds, 10 ounces, to capture the $45,000 first prize in the event
concluded Saturday on Kerr Lake.

Walser survived two earlier elimination rounds and 147 anglers en
route to the EverStart victory, edging out four other finalists
competing in Saturday's final round of the professional division. He
received $20,000 and an Evinrude-powered Ranger boat for the victory.
The win also gives him priority entry into the $4.4 million, 2000
Wal-Mart FLW Tour, the most lucrative bass series in history. Walser
caught his winning limit using a Zoom crankbait and a Pradco Bomber in
9 feet of water on Kerr Lake's upper end. He had his limit by noon.

"This is by far the biggest win of my career," said Walser of his
impressive win. "It's going to take awhile before it sinks in."

Jeff Coble of Henderson, North Carolina, took the runner-up spot
with a championship round, five bass tally weighing 16 pounds, 8
ounces, good for $20,000.

Rounding out the top five in the professional division of the
event that culminated the second year EverStart Series' Eastern
Division were: (3) William Chapman, Salt Rock, West Virginia, 11-9,
$18,000; (4) Wally Szuba, Cary, North Carolina, 10-5, $16,000; (5)
David Cooke, Davidson, North Carolina, 9-10, $14,000.

The winner of the Co-Angler division competition concluded Friday
was Tony Toombs of Drakes Branch, Virginia, who had a winning weight
of 15 pounds, 2 ounces. Toombs collected $10,000 for his Co-Angler
Division victory.

The EverStart Series consists of eight regular events, four in
the Central and four in the Eastern Division, and two EverStart
Challenge tournaments. The Challenge events, one per division, feature
the same format as the Wal-Mart FLW Tour tournaments. The Pro and
Co-Angler fields are cut to the top 10 after two days. Co-Angler
competition is ended at the conclusion of day three, with only the top
five pros left to compete on the final day.

The 2000 EverStart Series will include two divisions with four
qualifying events per division culminating with the EverStart
Championship. The tentative schedule for 2000 is as follows: Eastern
Division - January 5-8, Okeechobee, Clewiston, FL; February 2-5,
Martin Alexander City, AL; March 1-4 Santee Cooper Manning, SC; April
5-8 Cumberland Somerset, KY. Central Division - March 8-11, Sam
Rayburn, Jasper, TX; March 29 - April 1, Beaver Lake, Rogers, AR; May
3-6, Texoma, Pottstown, TX; June 7-10, Mississippi River Greenville,
MS. East/Central Invitational Challenge (top 75 from each division)
November 8-11, Winter Haven Chain, Cypress Gardens, Winter Haven, FL.

Each of the EverStart Challenge events is filmed for a future
television segment that will air on ESPN 2. The Eastern Division event
will air Sunday, December 12, 1999, at 1 p.m. EST on ESPN 2.

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

Five Anglers Advance to Final Round
in EverStart Bass Challenge;
North Carolina Anglers Continue To Dominate
HENDERSON, N.C.--(BW SportsWire)--Sept. 10, 1999--After three
days of competition in the EverStart Batteries Challenge bass
tournament being held on Kerr Lake, all but five of the 147 Pro
Division anglers have been eliminated, and they will advance to
Saturday's final round. There they will compete for the heaviest day's
catch weight to determine the winner, who will receive $45,000,
including $20,000, an Evinrude-powered Ranger bass boat, and priority
entry into the 2000 Wal-Mart FLW Tour, professional fishing's most
lucrative series.

The tournament is the culmination of the Eastern Division of the
lucrative, second year, 10-venue EverStart Series that features some
of the nation's best bass anglers competing in two divisions, Central
and Eastern. The series will award anglers up to $1.6 million in cash
and prizes during 1999. The EverStart Series also provides a pathway
for top anglers to the prestigious $4.4 million, seven-event Wal-Mart
FLW Tour professional bass series. The winning angler in the
Professional and Co-Angler division of each tournament along with the
top 10 anglers, based on points and pounds for the year, will receive
priority entry into the Wal-Mart FLW Tour in 2000.

The top five fishermen advancing in the professional division
include: Jeff Coble, Henderson, NC, 18-13; Robert Walser, Lexington,
NC, 18-7; William Chapman, Salt Rock, WV, 13-6; David Cooke, Davidson,
NC, 8-14; and Wally Szuba, Cary, NC, 7-8.

The Co-Angler competition concluded today with Tony Toombs of
Drakes Branch, Virginia, taking top honors with a catch weighing 15
pounds, 2 ounces. Toombs received $10,000 for the win.

The EverStart Series consists of eight regular events, four in
the Eastern and four in the Central Division, and two EverStart
Challenge tournaments. The Challenge events, one per division, feature
the same format as the Wal-Mart FLW Tour tournaments. The pro and
co-angler fields are cut to the top 10 after two days. Co-angler
competition is ended at the conclusion of day three, with only the top
five pros left to compete on the final day. In the final round, each
contestant is paired with a camera crew from ESPN. Saturday's weigh-in
begins at 3:30 p.m. at the Henderson, North Carolina, Wal-Mart located
at 200 North Cooper Road. A Family Fun Zone, with activities
including: 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.

EVERSTART CHALLENGE
HENDERSON, NORTH CAROLINA
KERR LAKE, SEPTEMBER 10, 1999
DAY 3 STANDINGS

PRO DIVISION

Rank Name City, State # Fish lbs/oz Winnings
---- ---- ----------- ------ ------ --------
1 JEFF L COBLE HENDERSON, NC 5 18 13 0
2 ROBERT WALSER LEXINGTON, NC 5 18 7 0
3 WILLIAM CHAPMAN SALT ROCK, WV 5 13 6 0
4 DAVID COOKE DAVIDSON, NC 4 8 14 0
5 WALLY SZUBA CARY, NC 3 7 8 0
6 RICK GASAWAY KENNESAW, GA 4 6 3 12000.00
7 RUFUS JOHNSON STRAWBERRY PLNS, TN 3 6 3 10000.00
8 DAVID GOSHORN BONNEAU, SC 2 3 11 9000.00
9 DANNY H GARRETT HARDY, VA 1 3 7 8000.00
10 ARLIE NAPIER MIDDLESBORO, KY 1 3 4 7000.00

CO-ANGLER DIVISION

Rank Name City, State # Fish lbs/oz Winnings
---- ---- ----------- ------ ------ --------
1 TONY TOOMBS DRAKES BRANCH, VA 5 15 2 10000.00
2 JEFF WELLS BATTLE CREEK, MI 4 9 2 5500.00
3 LANCE HENDERSON FORT OGDEN, FL 3 7 4 4500.00
4 JAMES PIERCE WENDELL, NC 2 6 10 4000.00
5 ERIC RUMLEY OAKVALE, WV 4 6 7 3600.00
6 GENE E BUTTS SR ROANOKE RAPIDS, NC 1 4 7 3200.00
7 GEORGE POLOSKY ALLIANCE, OH 1 2 11 3000.00
8 KENNETH L OWENS WISE, VA 1 1 6 2800.00
9 ROBERT MULLEINS CUMBERLAND, VA 1 1 5 2600.00
10 TREVIS TOWE SALEM, VA 0 0 0 2400.00

North Carolina Anglers Roll;
Field Narrowed to 10 in Bass Event On Kerr
HENDERSON, N.C.--(BW SportsWire)--Sept. 9, 1999--North Carolina
anglers dominated the top ten positions in the lucrative EverStart
Challenge bass tournament, securing four out of the top 10 berths
going into tomorrow's second round of competition. The 147-man
professional and 147-man co-angler fields of top bass anglers
competing in the lucrative tournament being held on Kerr Lake at
Henderson have been cut to 10 anglers in the Professional and
Co-Angler Divisions. The professional anglers will start over in the
second round, fishing for one day, Friday, for the heaviest limit of
bass that will propel them into the final, five-man round on Saturday.
Co-angler competition concludes at the end of Friday's action.

The event, which is the culmination of the second year EverStart
Series' Eastern Division, features some of the nation's top
professional and co-anglers competing in a four-day elimination
tournament for a $45,000 first place prize and priority entry into the
2000 Wal-Mart FLW Tour series.

Professional Division anglers fishing Friday will be competing
for one of five slots available in Saturday's final round of
competition, where the winning pro will receive $20,000 plus an
Evinrude-powered Ranger bass boat. First place in the Co-Angler
Division is $10,000.

Rickey Schumpert of Lexington, South Carolina, quashed a bid by
David Walker of Cannon, Kentucky, to be the only angler in history to
win Angler-of-the-Year titles in the Wal-Mart FLW Tour and the
EverStart Series in the same year. Schumpert ended the season with 215
points. Big Bass winner for the tournament was Chris Bowker of
Marshfield, Massachusetts, who landed a bass weighing 6 pounds, 8
ounces, good for $500.

The format for the EverStart Challenge is identical to Operation
Bass' professional Wal-Mart FLW Tour series, where the full field of
anglers, in both divisions, compete for two days, after which the
field is cut to 10, based on two-day cumulative catch weight. The top
10 anglers in the Pro and Co-Angler Divisions then start over
competing for one day to determine the five professional division
anglers that will advance to the final round.

In the final round, each contestant is paired with a camera crew
from ESPN. ESPN is filming the EverStart Challenge as part of the
Wal-Mart FLW Tour television series. The event will air Sunday,
December 12, 1999, at 1 p.m. EST on ESPN 2.

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

Friday's EverStart Challenge weigh-in will begin at 5:00 p.m. at
the Henderson, North Carolina, Wal-Mart located at 200 North Cooper
Road. Saturday's final weigh-in and ESPN 2 television production
begins at 3:30 p.m. A Family Fun Zone, with activities including:
seminars from pro anglers, ESPN 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.

EVERSTART CHALLENGE
HENDERSON, NORTH CAROLINA
KERR LAKE, SEPTEMBER 9, 1999
DAY 2 STANDINGS

PRO DIVISION

Rank Name City, State Day 1 Day 2 Day 1&2 Winnings
---- ---- ----------- ----- ----- ------- --------
1 WALLY SZUBA CARY, NC 19 7 10 12 30 3 0
2 ROBERT WALSER LEXINGTON, NC 15 1 15 2 30 3 0
3 RICK GASAWAY KENNESAW, GA 10 1 16 13 26 14 0
4 JEFF L COBLE HENDERSON, NC 13 15 9 12 23 11 0
5 DANNY H GARRETT HARDY, VA 14 12 8 10 23 6 0
6 RUFUS JOHNSON STRAWBERRY PLNS, TN 16 3 6 4 22 7 0
7 WILLIAM CHAPMAN SALT ROCK, WV 11 10 10 2 21 12 0
8 DAVID GOSHORN BONNEAU, SC 8 4 13 3 21 7 0
9 ARLIE NAPIER MIDDLESBORO, KY 10 1 11 4 21 5 0
10 DAVID COOKE DAVIDSON, NC 6 5 14 10 20 15 0
11 TONY SMITH DULUTH, GA 7 12 12 13 20 9 6000.00
12 DOUG YOUNG SALISBURY, NC 8 0 12 1 20 1 5000.00
13 MIKE HICKS RICHMOND, VA 9 15 10 1 20 0 4000.00
14 LARRY INMAN GREENSBORO, NC 10 13 8 15 19 12 3600.00
15 WESLEY STRADER SPRING CITY, TN 11 8 8 3 19 11 3200.00
16 JEFF EVANS BENTON, KY 10 1 9 9 19 10 2800.00
17 RICKY SHUMPERT LEXINGTON, SC 7 0 12 7 19 7 2800.00
18 MARK ROSE MARION, AR 3 8 15 8 19 0 2800.00
19 BRANDON GRAY BUFFALO JUCNT, VA 11 0 7 15 18 15 2800.00
20 JOHN LADD GASTONIA, NC 11 15 6 6 18 5 2800.00
21 GERALD BECK LEXINGTON, NC 1 11 16 9 18 4 2400.00
22 DAVID P DUDLEY MANTEO, NC 11 0 6 15 17 15 2400.00
23 TOMMY WILLIAMS LOUISVILLE, KY 11 10 5 15 17 9 2400.00
23 BOB JENNETT KERNERSVILLE, NC 3 13 13 12 17 9 2400.00
25 KOBY KREIGER OSCEOLA, IN 6 14 9 8 16 6 2400.00
26 DENNIS REEDY SANFORD, NC 4 3 11 10 15 13 1800.00
27 KIM M CARVER MILLEDGEVILLE, GA 1 15 13 9 15 8 1800.00
28 FRANK POIRIER HOPEWELL, VA 6 11 8 9 15 4 1800.00
29 BLU COOPER KNOXVILLE, TN 7 11 7 7 15 2 1800.00
30 CRAIG POWERS ROCKWOOD, TN 9 14 5 2 15 0 1800.00

CO-ANGLER DIVISION

Rank Name City, State Day 1 Day 2 Day 1&2 Winnings
---- ---- ----------- ----- ----- ------- --------
1 GENE SR E BUTTS ROANOKE RAPIDS, NC 9 9 9 2 18 11 0
2 JAMES PIERCE WENDELL, NC 5 12 11 7 17 3 0
3 ERIC RUMLEY OAKVALE, WV 3 3 13 14 17 1 0
4 TREVIS TOWE SALEM, VA 10 8 6 7 16 15 0
5 LANCE HENDERSON FORT OGDEN, FL 4 12 10 0 14 12 0
6 TONY TOOMBS DRAKES BRANCH, VA 3 0 11 0 14 0 0
7 JEFF WELLS BATTLE CREEK, MI 1 10 12 1 13 11 0
8 KENNETH L OWENS WISE, VA 1 10 11 4 12 14 0
9 ROBERT K MULLEINS CUMBERLAND, VA 5 8 6 4 11 12 0
10 GEORGE POLOSKY ALLIANCE, OH 3 1 8 9 11 10 0
11 JERRY TICE CHIPLEY, FL 11 9 0 0 11 9 2200.00
12 RONNIE L SMITH CHINA GROVE, NC 3 14 7 9 11 7 2000.00
13 DANIEL R TOWE SALEM, VA 9 7 1 13 11 4 1800.00
14 RANDY HARDIN GREENSBORO, NC 5 9 5 2 10 11 1600.00
15 TODD SCHAAF HUME, VA 5 11 4 14 10 9 1400.00
16 JR GOWEN HODGENVILLE, KY 4 13 5 11 10 8 1200.00
17 DAVID G WILLIAMS MAIDEN, NC 1 15 8 7 10 6 1200.00
18 ANTHONY HILL ASHEBORO, NC 4 15 4 15 9 14 1200.00
18 CHARLES WHITESELL GRAHAM, NC 4 4 5 10 9 14 1200.00
20 WARREN PERILLO NEW PROVIDENCE, NJ 0 0 9 10 9 10 1200.00
21 DAN MORROW EASTANOLLEE, GA 4 6 5 1 9 7 1000.00
22 QUINTEN STACY BASSETT, VA 0 0 9 3 9 3 1000.00
23 JOHN SUGGS ORANGE LAKE, FL 3 12 5 3 8 15 1000.00
24 BUB COOKSEY NEWARK, OH 2 10 5 10 8 4 1000.00
24 TONY ASBRIDGE HOLLY SPRINGS, NC 6 9 1 11 8 4 1000.00
26 DANNY HUCKS LENOIR, NC 4 7 3 12 8 3 800.00
27 DOUG MCCLURE CUMMING, GA 6 6 1 12 8 2 800.00
28 ERIC OXENDINE PEMBROKE, NC 0 0 8 1 8 1 800.00
29 ROBERT MULLIS CLARKSBURG, MD 2 0 5 15 7 15 800.00
30 JEREMY L GOSSETT OAK RIDGE, NC 7 11 0 0 7 11 400.00
30 JEFFREY BRANDT ROYAL PALM BCH, FL 0 0 7 11 7 11 400.00

Szuba Takes First Day Lead in EverStart
Challenge Bass Meet On Kerr Lake;
Anglers Compete for $283,200
HENDERSON, N.C.--(BW SportsWire)--Sept. 8, 1999--Wally Szuba of
Cary, North Carolina, has taken the first day lead in the Pro Division
of the lucrative EverStart Challenge bass tournament being held on
Kerr Lake with a first day, five bass weight of 19 pounds, 7 ounces.
The event, which is the culmination of the second year EverStart
Batteries Series' Eastern Division, features 147 professional and 147
co-anglers competing in a four-day elimination tournament for a
$45,000 first place prize and priority entry into the 2000 Wal-Mart
FLW Tour series.

Szuba is competing for one of 10 slots available in the second
round of competition that begins Friday, when anglers compete for one
day to determine the top five Pro anglers who will compete in
Saturday's final round where the winning pro will receive $20,000 plus
an Evinrude-powered Ranger bass boat. First place in the Co-Angler
Division is $10,000. Co-Angler competition is concluded at the end of
Friday's second round.

The format for the event is identical to Operation Bass'
professional Wal-Mart FLW Tour series. The first two days, the full
field of professional anglers and co-anglers compete for the heaviest
two-day total weight, with the top 10 anglers from each division
advancing to day three. Weight totals from the first round do not
carry over. At the conclusion of the third day of competition, the top
five pros advance to the final round where the winners are determined
by the total weight of that day's catch.

In the final round, each contestant is paired with a camera crew
from ESPN. ESPN is filming the EverStart Challenge as part of the
Wal-Mart FLW Tour television series. The event will air Sunday,
December 12, 1999, at 1 p.m. EST on ESPN 2.

Jerry Tice of Chipley, Florida, is leading the co-angler field
with a first day, four bass total weighing 11 pounds, 9 ounces. The
total purse in the Co-Angler Division is $66,400; the purse in the Pro
Division is $191,800, plus a Ranger boat.

EVERSTART CHALLENGE
HENDERSON, NORTH CAROLINA, SEPTEMBER 8, 1999
DAY 1 STANDINGS
PRO DIVISION

Rank Name City, State Caught Released Weight
---- ---- ----------- ------ -------- ------
1 WALLY SZUBA CARY, NC 5 5 19 - 7
2 RUFUS JOHNSON STRAWBERRY PLNS, TN 5 5 16 - 3
3 ROBERT WALSER LEXINGTON, NC 5 5 15 - 1
4 DANNY GARRETT HARDY, VA 5 3 14 - 12
5 JEFF COBLE HENDERSON, NC 4 4 13 - 15
6 MARK MAULDIN KNOXVILLE, TN 5 4 12 - 9
7 JOEL RICHARDSON KERNERSVILLE, NC 5 5 12 - 4
8 JOHN LADD GASTONIA, NC 5 5 11 - 15
9 LARRY CHURCH KEYSVILLE, VA 5 5 11 - 12
10 WILLIAM CHAPMAN SALT ROCK, WV 5 5 11 - 10
10 TOMMY WILLIAMS LOUISVILLE, KY 5 5 11 - 10
12 WESLEY STRADER SPRING CITY, TN 4 4 11 - 8
12 JOE JR NICHOLS AHOSKIE, NC 3 3 11 - 8
14 DAVID DUDLEY MANTEO, NC 5 5 11 - 0
14 BRANDON GRAY BUFFALO JUNCTION, VA 3 3 11 - 0
16 LARRY INMAN GREENSBORO, NC 3 2 10 - 13
17 RICK GASAWAY KENNESAW, GA 4 4 10 - 1
17 JEFF EVANS BENTON, KY 4 4 10 - 1
17 ARLIE NAPIER MIDDLESBORO, KY 2 2 10 - 1
20 MIKE HICKS RICHMOND, VA 4 4 9 - 15
21 STEPHEN CARTY HOLBROOK, MA 3 3 9 - 14
21 CRAIG POWERS ROCKWOOD, TN 5 5 9 - 14
23 TOMMY LITTLE CHESTER, VA 4 4 9 - 11
23 BRIAN MERRIMAN FALKVILLE, AL 4 4 9 - 11
25 RICKY FARR CHESTERFIELD, VA 5 5 9 - 1
26 CHRIS ELLIOTT RALEIGH, NC 4 4 8 - 14
27 EDDIE PARKER MACON, GA 2 2 8 - 6
28 DAVID GOSHORN BONNEAU, SC 2 2 8 - 4
29 DOUG YOUNG SALISBURY, NC 3 3 8 - 0
30 DON GRAHAM HUNTERSVILLE, NC 4 4 7 - 14

CO-ANGLER DIVISION

Rank Name City, State Caught Released Weight
---- ---- ----------- ------ -------- ------
1 JERRY TICE CHIPLEY, FL 4 4 11 - 9
2 TREVIS TOWE SALEM, VA 5 5 10 - 8
3 GENE SR BUTTS ROANOKE RAPIDS, NC 4 4 9 - 9
4 DANIEL TOWE SALEM, VA 4 4 9 - 7
5 JEREMY GOSSETT OAK RIDGE, NC 4 4 7 - 11
6 GENE GUTHRIE COCOA, FL 3 3 7 - 4
7 JIMMY PORTER WAKE FOREST, NC 3 3 6 - 10
8 TONY ASBRIDGE HOLLY SPRINGS, NC 3 3 6 - 9
9 DOUG MCCLURE CUMMING, GA 3 3 6 - 6
10 JAMES PIERCE WENDELL, NC 2 2 5 - 12
11 TODD SCHAAF HUME, VA 2 1 5 - 11
12 JOHN CREWS JETERSVILLE, VA 2 2 5 - 10
13 RANDY HARDIN GREENSBORO, NC 3 3 5 - 9
14 TIM EZELL KEY WEST, FL 3 3 5 - 8
14 ROBERT MULLEINS CUMBERLAND, VA 3 3 5 - 8

EverStart Challenge Bass Meet
To Net Winner $45,000

HENDERSON, N.C.--(BW SportsWire)--Aug. 17, 1999--Top bass anglers
from the second year EverStart Batteries Series of bass tournaments
will converge on Kerr Lake at Henderson, North Carolina, to compete
for an Evinrude-powered Ranger bass boat plus $20,000 September 8-11,
1999.

The EverStart Challenge, which is the culmination of the Eastern
Division of the $1.7 million series, will feature a purse of $283,200
and some of competitive angling's brightest new stars, like David
Walker of Cannon, Kentucky. Walker won the Angler of the Year points
race on the 1999 Wal-Mart FLW Tour and will appear on a special
edition box of Wheaties due out in September. He is currently in
second place in the Angler of the Year race in the Eastern Division of
the EverStart Series, trailing Ricky Shumpert by just 21 points.
Should he win, Walker would be the first angler in history to win both
titles in the same year. Joining Walker in the Professional Division
are seasoned Wal-Mart FLW Tour pros Roger Farmer, Marty Stone, Dwayne
Horton, and Jeff Coble.

The format for the event is identical to Operation Bass' exciting
Wal-Mart FLW Tour for professional anglers and includes four days of
elimination competition, with the full field narrowing to the top 10
pros and co-anglers at the conclusion of the second day of
competition. The anglers then fish for one day (weights do not carry
over from the first round), with the top five pros, based on that
day's catch weight, advancing to the final round on Saturday.
Co-angler competition is concluded at the end of Friday's competition.
First place in the co-angler division is $10,000.

In the final round, each of the professional anglers 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. The event is
tentatively scheduled to air December 12, 1999, at 1:00 p.m. EST on
ESPN 2.

The winner of the EverStart Challenge, winners of each of the
previous four EverStart Series events in the Central Division, and the
top 10 anglers from the Central and Eastern division, based on pounds
and points for the year, automatically receive priority into the
prestigious 2000 Wal-Mart FLW Tour, which features a record $4.4
million in cash awards in the seven-venue tour.

"The EverStart Series was designed to meet the incredible demand
for high visibility, lucrative bass tournaments generated by the
Wal-Mart FLW Tour," said Operation Bass President, Charlie Hoover.
"The series gives anglers a pathway to the professional ranks that
offer even more lucrative purses and national exposure."

Winners of 1999 Eastern Division EverStart tournaments include:
Derrick Millirons, Seale, Alabama, Larry Pinder, Port Charlotte,
Florida, William Chapman, Salt Rock, West Virginia, and Larry Inman,
Greensboro, North Carolina. Winners of EverStart Series events receive
priority entry into 2000 Wal-Mart FLW Tour events.

Weigh-ins for the EverStart Challenge will begin at 2:00 p.m.
daily Wednesday and Thursday at Satterwhite Point Marina. Friday and
Saturday's weigh-ins begin at 5:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. respectively at
the Henderson, North Carolina, Wal-Mart located at 200 North Cooper
Road. A Family Fun Zone, with activities including: seminars from pro
anglers, ESPN 2 television taping, Elliot Sandler's CITGO race car,
and a trout pond for the kids will be open to the public beginning at
noon on Saturday.