Anglers Qualify To Cast For $1 Million In Bass Contest; Ranger Millennium M-1 Tournament, Presented By CIT Group, To Feature $3.5 Million Purse; Richest In Bass History.

FLIPPIN, Ark.--(BW SportsWire)--April 19, 1999--

The field for the $3.5 Ranger Millennium bass tournament is beginning to take shape, as the world's top bass anglers, fishing in various qualifying tournaments throughout the year, begin to qualify for a shot at the largest first place cash prize in sport fishing history --$1 million -- and bass fishing immortality.

The premier bass fishing event, scheduled for November, 1999, at a location to be announced, will feature a full field of 200 professional and 200 co-angler participants vying for a share of the largest purse in competitive bass fishing history -- $3.5 million.

With the majority of qualifying tournaments yet to be held, the field for the prestigious tournament is still wide open for bass fishing enthusiasts wanting a shot at the $1 million first place cash. Touring professional anglers Denny Brauer of Camdenton, Missouri, Stephen Browning of Hot Springs, Arkansas, George Cochran of Hot Springs, Arkansas, David Walker of Cannon, Kentucky, and Mike Wurm of Hot Springs, Arkansas, lead a field of professional fishermen from several organizations who have qualified for the historic tournament to date that is highlighted by a guaranteed $400,000 first place cash award and up to $600,000 in sponsor bonus cash. In the Pro Division, Denny Brauer has met the sponsor bonus cash qualifications and, should he win, will receive $1 million.

To qualify for the high stakes Ranger owners tournament, anglers are competing in tournaments conducted throughout the nation by more than 20 participating bass fishing organizations. Pro and co-anglers receive their respective division designations based upon their finish in the specified tournaments; the highest finishing Ranger owner, as determined by the individual organization's qualifying criteria, is eligible to compete in the Pro Division, while the second highest finishing Ranger owner is eligible to compete in the Co-angler Division.

Organizations participating in the Ranger Millennium event include: Wal-Mart FLW Tour, EverStart Series, Red Man Tournament Trail, Bass World Sports, Bassing America, Buck's Island, CAST, Central Pro/Am, Fisherman's Bass, Guys and Dolls, NEWBASS, Northland Bass, Pro Team Tournament Trail, Silverado Pro Bass, Sport Boats Team Championship, Sun Country Bass, Superior Bass, Tarheel Team Tournaments, Tradewinds, West Coast Bass, WON Bass, and International Invitations. Anglers fishing B.A.S.S. events are eligible to compete in the tournament should they qualify to do so.

Participants in the Ranger Millennium M-1 tournament will compete in three elimination rounds to determine a winner. The field will compete for two days, after which the field will be cut to the top 50 anglers in both divisions. These anglers will then compete for one day, in the second round, with the top 10 advancing to the final day of competition. Catch weights carry over on the first two days, however, anglers will start the second and final rounds from zero.

The winner of the Ranger Millennium bass tournaments' pro-angler division competition will receive the largest guaranteed first place cash prize in the history of fishing--$400,000--and the opportunity to collect an additional $600,000 in sponsor bonus prize money. The winner of the co-angler division will receive $150,000 and the opportunity to collect another $100,000 in sponsor bonus prize money. The event also features a daily big bass prize of $5,000, with the overall big bass winner collecting an additional $5,000 in the pro division. Co-angler division competitors will collect daily big bass checks of $2,500.

All competitors will receive a minimum payback equivalent to their entry fee provided they have met the sponsor bonus prize qualifications. Entry fees for the lucrative tournament are $5000 for entrants in the pro angler division and $2500 for those in the co-angler division.

Sponsors of the Ranger Millennium M-1 tournament include: CIT Group, Ranger Boats, CITGO, Evinrude Outboards, Garmin, and Watkins Incorporated. Associate sponsors are: Abu Garcia, Berkley, Black & Decker, EverStart Batteries, Coca-Cola, Chevy Trucks, Fenwick, Land O'Lakes, Wal-Mart, Wheaties, Uniroyal, Wrangler, and USA Bank/VISA.