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More than three months away from the 2010 Bassmaster Classic, the full field of 51 anglers was finalized Saturday with Darrell West of Drasco, Ark., winning the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Weekend Series Championship Operated by American Bass Anglers and scoring the final Classic berth. Also determined Saturday were two Classic berths from the Bassmaster Central Open circuit. James Niggemeyer of Van, Texas, and Cliff Crochet of Pierre Part, La., earned those.
Niggemeyer double-qualified for the Classic – first through the Bassmaster Elite Series – and his Classic qualification will come from the Opens, opening the way for Mark Tucker of St. Louis, Mo., to move into the championship based on his position in the 2009 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings.
The 40th edition of the Classic will be held Feb. 19-21 on Lay Lake out of Birmingham. Ala. The field is highlighted by Kevin VanDam, five-time Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year and Pam Martin-Wells of Bainbridge, Ga., who scored the second berth ever for a female angler on the strength of her 2009 Toyota Tundra Women’s Bassmaster Angler of the Year title.
Also qualifying were the top 36 anglers in the 2009 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings derived from the 2009 Bassmaster Elite Series; the top two anglers in the Bassmaster Open points standings in each of three 2009 Opens Divisions; six amateur competitors through the 2009 Bassmaster Federation Nation Championship and Skeet Reese of Auburn, Calif., the defending Classic champion.
With competitors who were double qualified, like Reese, BASS worked down the 2009 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year standings to fill the field. The full list of competitors can be found below arranged alphabetically.
“Anglers of all skill levels consider the Bassmaster Classic the most prestigious fishing tournament in the world and qualifying for it is quite an accomplishment,” said Tom Ricks, BASS and ESPN Outdoors vice president and general manager. “We are excited to host the 40th edition of our marquee event in the state where BASS was founded.”
According to BASS rules, Lay Lake will become off-limits to Bassmaster Classic participants beginning Monday, Dec. 14. Anglers will get another crack at the fishery during the official practice period, set for Feb. 12-14, and a final look Feb. 17.
The competition will feature daily launches Feb. 19-21 at Beeswax Creek Boat Ramp. Daily weigh-ins will take place at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex.
The tournament will receive more than 10 hours of television coverage on ESPN2 during the three-day event.
2010 BASSMASTER CLASSIC QUALIFIERS
1. Jody Adkins - North Canton, Ohio
2. Casey Ashley - Donalds, S.C.
3. Scott Ashmore - Broken Arrow, Okla.
4. Tommy Biffle - Wagoner, Okla.
5. Denny Brauer - Camdenton, Mo.
6. Stephen Browning - Hot Springs, Ark.
7. Terry Butcher - Talala, Okla.
8. Brent Chapman - Lake Quivira, Kan.
9. Cliff Crochet - Pierre Part, La.
10. Boyd Duckett - Demopolis, Ala.
11. Todd Faircloth - Jasper, Texas
12. Jami Fralick - Martin, S.D.
13. Jeff Freeman - Max Meadows, Va.
14. Shaw Grigsby - Gainesville, Fla.
15. Greg Hackney - Gonzales, La.
16. Matt Herren - Trussville, Ala.
17. Don Hogue - Pasco, Wash.
18. Randy Howell - Springville, Ala.
19. Michael Iaconelli - Runnemede, N.J.
20. Alton Jones - Waco, Texas
21. Kelly Jordon - Mineola, Texas
22. Steve Kennedy - Auburn, Ala.
23. Kotaro Kiriyama - Moody, Ala.
24. Gary Klein - Weatherford, Texas
25. Jeff Kriet - Ardmore, Okla.
26. Bobby Lane - Lakeland, Fla.
27. Russ Lane - Prattville, Ala.
28. Brent Long - Cornelius, N.C.
29. Aaron Martens - Leeds, Ala.
30. Pam Martin-Wells - Bainbridge, Ga.
31. Billy McCaghren - Mayflower, Ark.
32. Mike McClelland - Bella Vista, Ark.
33. Mark Menendez - Paducah, Ky.
34. John Murray - Phoenix, Ariz.
35. James Niggemeyer - Van, Texas
36. Takahiro Omori - Emory, Texas
37. Cliff Pace - Petal, Miss.
38. Randy Phillips - Oxford, Mass.
39. Jason Quinn - Lake Wylie, S.C.
40. Skeet Reese - Auburn, Calif.
41. Dean Rojas - Lake Havasu, Ariz.
42. Frank Scalish - Cleveland Heights, Ohio
43. Bryan Schmidt - Olney, Texas
44. Terry Scroggins - San Mateo, Fla.
45. Kevin Short - Mayflower, Ark.
46. Gerald Swindle - Warrior, Ala.
47. Mark Tucker St. Louis, Mo.
48. Kevin VanDam - Kalamazoo, Mich.
49. Byron Velvick - Del Rio, Texas
50. Darrell West - Drasco, Ark.
51. Kevin Wirth - Crestwood, Ky.
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