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Norman, Okla. – Along with the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year Points Series, there is another measuring tool to define success on the Elite Series; that second measuring stick is season earnings.
The high-risk nature of the Elite Series’ long season and big entry fees also brings the potential for high rewards. In 2007, 34 Elite Series pros won $100,000 or more. The big winner of last season was Boyd Duckett who rode the strength of his Bassmaster Classic and Bassmaster Legends victories to $836,500 in earnings.
Like Duckett did last season, the quickest and most obvious way to earn big money is to win tournaments, and thus far in 2008 the primary means to breaking the six figure mark has been to win. However, one angler has found that consistent quality finishes has equaled one big payday.
The BASS ZONE has been keeping statistics and here are those anglers ahead of the curve at just past the midway point of the 2008 Elite Series season.
Leading the Pack
At $568,500, Alton Jones not only grabbed the half million-dollar purse as Bassmaster Classic Champion, but he has also collected a paycheck in every event thus far this season, including two Elite 12 finishes [Kissimmee Chain and Clarks Hill]. Jones’ average finish in 2008 has been 27th place.
Second on the money list is two-time Bassmaster Classic Champion Kevin VanDam, from Kalamazoo, Mich. Van Dam has earned $192,500 in 2008. After winning at the Kissimmee Chain, the three time Angler of the Year has also been in two other Elite 12 fields besides his 3rd place finish at the Classic [Clarks Hill, Lake Murray]. Van Dam’s average finish thus far has been 24th place
Another Texan, Todd Faircloth, has been riding a string of steady paycheck finishes that dates back to last season. At $176,750 Faircloth has already eclipsed his earnings from last year. His win at Lake Amistad, along with two other Elite 12 finishes [Harris Chain, Clarks Hill] have carried him to second place in the Angler of the Year standings; his average finish is 20th place.
At fourth on the earnings list with $171,500 in winnings, Mike McClelland is the current Angler of the Year Points Leader, and like the others, McClelland has won a tournament, and has consistently placed in the money. Besides his season opening win at the Harris Chain, the Bella Vista, Ark. Pro has been in one other Elite 12 field [Amistad] and has an average finishing position of 19th place.
At $154,900 in earnings, Kenyon Hill of Norman, Okla. Has already bested his 2007 earnings by more than a hundred thousand dollars. Hill, who won the Clarks Hill event has only missed one paycheck [Lake
Amistad] and has had two other Elite 12 finishes [Harris Chain, Kissimmee Chain] his average finish position has been 27th place.
With an average finish of 29th place, Bixby, Okla. pro Fred Roumbanis has been performing with consistency this year. His win at Lake Murray gave
Roumbanis’ earnings a boost to put him in a tie with hill at $154,900 in earnings. Roumbanis has only finished out of the money this year at Falcon Lake, and is currently in 9th place in the Angler of the Year standings. |
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Bobby Lane is the only member of the six-figure club to have not won a tournament in 2008. The current Toyota Rookie of the Year leader has cashed paychecks in all but one event [Falcon Lake] and has two Elite 12 finishes to his credit [Harris Chain and Kissimmee Chain]; his average finish has been 31st place, and his season’s earnings have totaled $110,000.
Rounding out the six-figure club is Paul Elias of Laurel, Miss. Elias has earned $100,000 for the year. Elias earned the sum total of his earnings with his record setting 132-pound, 8-ounce victory at Falcon Lake, the season’s third stop. The 1982 Bassmaster Classic Champion has an average finish position of 72nd place.
Almost to Six-Figures
There are several other Elite Series pros that are on the verge of going over the $100,000 mark for 2008.
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At $93,000, Edwin Evers of
Mannsville, Okla. is one top 50 finish away from going over the top. Given the fact that Evers has had three Elite 12 finishes in a row
[Amistad, Clarks Hill and Lake Murray], that day shouldn’t be too far away.
With $88,300 thus far, “Big Show” Terry Scroggins of San Mateo, Fla. has cashed three paychecks other than the Classic including two Elite 12 finishes [Kissimmee Chain, Falcon Lake].
Little Rock, Ark. pro Scott Rook is also ahead of the curve in 2008, his $85,250 in earnings has come from five paydays including two Elite 12 finishes [Kissimmee Chain and Falcon Lake]
Second year Elite Series pro Casey Ashley is proving just how dangerous he can be. The
Donalds, S.C. angler has cashed five paychecks, including one Elite 12 finish [Clarks Hill]. He has earned $85,150. |
Behind Ashley is reigning Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year Skeet Reese from Auburn, Calif. Reese has the highest average finishing position thus far in 2008 [18th place], and in third place in the points has quietly put himself in position to repeat. Rees has cashed six paychecks with one Elite 12 finish [Clarks Hill] en route to $80,333 in earnings.
Kevin Short of Mayflower, Ark. is one paycheck away from reaching his total of six from last season. At $78, 550 Short has already eclipsed his earnings from last year and is having his best Elite Series campaign thus far.
Auburn, Ala. Pro Steve Kennedy has rode the strength of three paychecks, including two Elite 12 finishes [Harris Chain, Lake Murray] to $78,000 in earnings including the Classic.
In the Black
The Following Elite Series Competitors have already earned enough in 208 to cover their entry fees and with just under half of the season left to go, are in position to make their year a profitable one.
Dean Rojas, Lake Havasu City, Ariz. - $68,200
Bryan Hudgins, Orange Pak, Fla. - $65,750
Cliff Pace, Petal, Miss. - $65,600
Kotaro Kiriyama – Moody, Ala. $64,400
Jared Linter, Arroyo Grande, Calif. - $63,850
Aaron Martens, Leeds, Ala. - $63,500
Ish Monroe, Hughson, Calif. - $63,200
Mike Iaconelli, Runnemede, N.J. - $63,000
Brent Chapman, Lake Quivira, Kan. - $62,700
Greg Hackney, Gonzales, La. - $62,500
Clark Reehm, Russellville, Ark. - $62,000
Mark Davis, Mt. Ida, Ark - $61,187
Derek Remitz, Grant, Ala. - $60,800
Davy Hite, Ninety-Six, S.C. - $59,500
Kelly Jordon, Mineola, Tex. - $59,250
Dave Wolak, Chapel Hill, N.C. - $59,000
Byron Velvick, Del Rio, Tex. - $57,600
Rick Morris, Virginia Beach, Va. - $56,600
Brian Snowden, Branson, Mo. - $56,500
Over 50K
There are eight more Elite Series pros that have already earned at least $50,000 in 2008. Those names are:
Gary Klein, Weatherford, Tex. - $53,900
Gerald Swindle, Warrior, Ala. $52,650
Jeff Kriet, Ardmore, Okla. - $52,500
Takahiro Omori, Emory, Tex. - $51,083
Chris Lane, Winter Haven, Fla. - $50,700
Bernie Schultz, Gainesville, Fla. - $50,550
Brad Hallman, Norman, Okla. - $50,500
Mike Wurm, Hot Springs, Ark. - $50,000
NOTES:
Todd Faircloth, Bryan Hudgins, Alton Jones,
Mike McClelland, Skeet Reese and Dean Rojas
are the only pros to cash a check in each of
the first six events. Only four pros,
Mark Tyler, Randy Allen, Steve Daniels and
Paul Hirosky have not made a trip to the
bank this year.
Bobby
Myers, who dropped out after event number
four, did not cash a check this
season. But the Oklahoma angler
returned to his home waters less than a
month after leaving the Elites and won a
$30,000 boat in a 300 boat team tournament
on Grand Lake.
There’s no telling how the rest of the season will shape up, but one thing is for certain, The BASS ZONE will be on location to bring you all of the details as the 2008 Bassmaster Elite Series rounds the corner to head for the home stretch. Stay Tuned!
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