FLW Will Fish for Kids Charity Tournament crosses $1 million donation mark to Arkansas Children’s Hospital
May 2nd, 2017 by OutdoorsFIRST
Modified May 2nd, 2017 at 12:00 AM
Every year the FLW Tour makes an annual trek to northwest Arkansas to visit Beaver Lake. However, the action doesn’t stop after the tournament is finished. The FLW Will Fish for Kids (WFFK) Bill Kerr Memorial Charity Tournament Lake, presented by Quaker State, took place on Beaver Lake Monday following the conclusion of the Beaver Lake Tour stop.
Once the final count had been tallied, the 2017 event raised a total of $60,703 for the Dental Clinic at the Arkansas Children’s Hospital. Since 2005, WWFK has raised a grand total of $1,001,297 for the clinic.
“This money is going directly to our dental unit at the Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock,” said Elizabeth Sullivan, the Arkansas Children’s Hospital senior development officer, annual gifts. “For the pros to stick around a few extra days to help raise money for our community – it’s just special and a really great event. Everyone has so much fun and it’s for such a great cause. We’re truly excited and thankful for FLW and Walmart for this event.”
FLW Tour pro James Watson of Lampe, Missouri, was the WFFK honorary chairperson this year. Entry fees paid by pro contestants and Walmart employees, as well as corporate boat sponsorships, were collected prior to the tournament. That money was combined with funds raised at Sunday night’s banquet and silent auction and the check for more than $60,000 was delivered on-stage to Sullivan.
The fishing tournament was won by FLW Tour pro Scott Martin and David Hunter. The duo had a fantastic day on Beaver Lake, catching a five-bass limit that weighed 14 pounds, 14 ounces – larger than any limit that crossed the scale Sunday during the final day of the FLW Tour event. Though the charity tournament was not nearly as strenuous or stressful as the FLW Tour event, catching a solid limit on a muddy Beaver Lake was still quite a feat.
“We had a lot of fun today, but at the end of the day this is all for a really great cause,” said Martin, the 2011 Forrest Wood Cup champion and 2015 FLW Angler of the Year. “My hat is off to FLW and Walmart for all of the money that they raise for the Children’s Hospital. It is an honor to be a part of this. My partner David is a great fisherman and I hope we get to do this again.”
The top 10 teams finished the tournament:
1st: Scott Martin and David Hunter, five bass, 14-14, $3,000
2nd: Jeremy Thomas, five bass, 13-12, $2,000
3rd: Old Spice pro Greg Bohannan and Jason Adams, five bass, 13-7, $500
3rd: Jim Moynagh and Milton Polk, five bass, 13-7, $500
5th: Yamamoto Baits pro Larry Nixon and Jeff George, five bass, 12-14
6th: General Tire pro Mark Rose and Jim Enneking, five bass, 12-12
7th: Jason Sanders and Brian Gripe, four bass, 12-6
8th: Shane Michele and Bobby Dennis, five bass, 11-15
8th: Keith Daffron and Ronnie Davidson, five bass, 11-15
10th: Ben Fulcher and Don Herbert, five bass, 11-14
A complete list of results can be found at WillFishForKids.com.