Five Anglers Advance to Final Round in EverStart Bass Challenge.

HENDERSON, N.C.--(BW SportsWire)--Nov. 13, 1998--After three days of competition in the EverStart Challenge bass tournament being held on Kerr Lake, all but five of the 157 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 $20,000, an Evinrude-powered Ranger bass boat, and priority entry into the 1999 Wal-Mart FLW Tour, professional fishing's most lucrative series.

The tournament is the culmination of the Eastern Division of the new, 10-venue EverStart Series that features two divisions, Central and Eastern. The series will award anglers up to $1.6 million in cash and prizes during 1998. The series also provides a pathway for top anglers to the prestigious $3.97 million, seven-event Wal-Mart FLW Tour professional bass series. The winning angler in the Professional and Co-Angler (amateur) 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 1999.

The top five fishermen advancing in the professional division include: (1) Rodney Sorrell, Stokesdale, North Carolina, 15 pounds, 4 ounces; (2) Gerald Beck, Lexington, North Carolina, 13 pounds, 14 ounces; (3) Jeff Coble, Henderson, North Carolina, 13 pounds, 6 ounces; (4) Joel Richardson, Kernersville, North Carolina, 12 pounds, 11 ounces; (5) Frank Ippoliti, Mount Airy, Maryland, 8 pounds, 9 ounces.

Pro division anglers not making the cut for Saturday's final round are: (6) Dennis Reedy, Sanford, North Carolina, 6 pounds, 12 ounces, $12,000; (7) Abe Abernathy, Greensboro, North Carolina, 2 pounds, 10 ounces, $10,000; (8) Doyle Hodgin, Durham, North Carolina, 2 pounds, 3 ounces, $9,000; (9) Robert Walser, Lexington, North Carolina, 2 pounds, 0 ounces, $8,000; (10) James Key, Troy, Alabama, 0 pounds, $7,000.

The Co-Angler competition concluded today with Brandon Gray of Colfax, North Carolina, taking top honors with a five-bass catch weighing 14 pounds, 14 ounces. Gray received $10,000 for the win. Rounding out the top 10 were: (2) Lanny Kinsey, Henderson, North Carolina, 7 pounds, 8 ounces, $4,000; (3) Larry Moody, Raleigh, North Carolina, 4 pounds, 13 ounces, $3,000; (4) "Flash" Butts, Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, 3 pounds, 0 ounces, $2,500; (5) Harry Shoffner, Burlington, North Carolina, 1 pound, 9 ounces, $2,000; (6) Bruce Simons, Elizabeth City, North Carolina, 0 pounds, $1,400; (7) Gary Vick, Wilson, North Carolina, 0 pounds, $1,300; (8) Phil Maness, Salisbury, North Carolina, 0 pounds, $1,200; (9) Nick Arnold, New Bern, North Carolina, 0 pounds, $1,100; and (10) John Blizzard, Columbus, Georgia, 0 pounds, $1,000.

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 will begin at 4 p.m. at the Henderson Wal-Mart located at 200 N. Cooper Road. Activities including seminars from pro anglers, ESPN television taping, sponsor displays, and Michael Waltrip's CITGO race car will be open to the public beginning at noon on Saturday.

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.

For a complete listing of Pro and Amateur division standings, check out the Operation Bass website at www.everstartseries.com. _____________________________________________________________________

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