| 

Jonathon VanDam Named New Bassmaster Elite Series Champion in Green Bay

Category: article

 Jul 1st, 2012 by OutdoorsFIRST 

Modified Jul 1st, 2012 at 12:00 AM

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Four days on Lake Michigan produced four different tournament leaders at the Bassmaster Elite Series Green Bay Challenge. But it was the leader at the end of today’s final competition round who takes home the trophy, $100,000 in first-place prize money and an automatic berth in the 2013 Bassmaster Classic. That distinction belongs to Jonathon VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich., who bested 97 of the best bass anglers in the world with a four-day catch of smallmouth bass weighing 79 pounds, 2 ounces.

VanDam saved his best performance for the last round, boating a limit of five smallmouth that weighed 23-4 and edging ahead of Idaho’s Brandon Palaniuk, the tournament leader going into the final round, by 2-6.

VanDam fished a Strike King Dream Shot plastic worm in KVD Magic (green and silver with blue flake) on a drop shot rig above a 3/8-ounce sinker for the bulk of his catch. Though he struggled early, falling behind Palaniuk and others, he came on strong in the last couple of hours to claim the championship.

“I went through the highest of highs and the lowest of lows today,” VanDam said on stage moments before his uncle, legendary angler Kevin VanDam, handed him the tournament trophy and set a Green Bay Packers’ cheese head atop his fishing cap. “I didn’t have my first keeper until about noon. I was a train wreck, but I kept grinding, and it paid off.”

Along with the Elite Series win and six-figure payday, VanDam earns a berth in the 2013 Bassmaster Classic on Grand Lake out of Tulsa, Okla. It will be his first appearance in the championship that his Uncle Kevin has dominated with 22 consecutive appearances and four wins since 2001.

“Words just don’t describe what this means to me,” VanDam said. “I’ve been dreaming of this moment for a long time.”

The win is VanDam’s second as a B.A.S.S. pro and first at the Elite level. He becomes the second youngest Elite champion in history at 23 years and 10 months of age. Elite Series angler Casey Ashley was six months younger when he won on Smith Mountain Lake in 2007.

On the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year front, the race is close going into the season finale at the Oneida Lake Challenge, Aug. 23-26. Brent Chapman of Kansas leads the race with 566 points. Ott DeFoe of Tennessee is second with 553, and Todd Faircloth of Texas is third with 546. It promises to be the tightest AOY race in years and could come down to the final day of competition at Oneida.

Several anglers earned bonuses at the Green Bay Challenge:

* Carhartt Big Bass of the tournament, which paid $750, plus another $750 if the angler was wearing Carhartt clothing: Jonathon VanDam, who caught a 5-11 smallmouth on Day 4.

* Berkley Heavyweight Award of $500 for the best five-fish limit: Jonathon VanDam’s 23-4 on Day 4.

* Power-Pole Captain’s Cash of $1,000 if the winner has Power-Poles installed on his boat: Jonathon VanDam.

* Toyota $1,000 bonus to the leader in the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year points race: Brent Chapman with 566 points.

* Luck “E” Strike Comeback Award of $500 to the most-improved pro in the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year points race: Brandon Palaniuk.

Coverage of the Green Bay Challenge will air on ESPN2 on July 14 and on Aug. 5 from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. EST.

2012 Bassmaster Elite Series Official Sponsors: Toyota, Bass Pro Shops, Berkley, Evan Williams Bourbon, Humminbird, Mercury, MinnKota, Nitro Boats, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Yamaha

2012 Bassmaster Elite Series Supporting Sponsor: BOOYAH, Carhartt, Lowrance, Luck “E” Strike, Power-Pole, Ramada

2012 Bassmaster Elite Series Proud Partner: Mustang Survival

About B.A.S.S.

For more than 40 years, B.A.S.S. has served as the authority on bass fishing. The organization advances the sport through advocacy, outreach and an expansive tournament structure while connecting directly with the passionate community of bass anglers through its Bassmaster media vehicles.

The Bassmaster brand and its multimedia platforms are guided by a mission to serve all fishing fans. Through its industry-leading publications – Bassmaster Magazine and B.A.S.S. Times – comprehensive website Bassmaster.com and ESPN2 and Outdoor Channel television programming, Bassmaster provides rich, leading-edge content true to the lifestyle.

The Bassmaster Tournament Trail includes the Bassmaster Elite Series, Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Open Series, Carhartt Bassmaster College Series, Cabela’s B.A.S.S. Federation Nation events and the ultimate celebration of competitive fishing, the Bassmaster Classic.

B.A.S.S. offers an array of services to its more than 500,000 members and remains focused on issues related to conservation and water access. The organization is headquartered in Birmingham, Ala.

2012 Green Bay Challenge 6/28-7/1

Lake Michigan, Green Bay  WI.

(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 4

   Angler                   Hometown              No./lbs-oz  Pts   Total $$$

1.  Jonathon VanDam        Kalamazoo, MI           20  79-02   98 $103,000.00

  Day 1: 5   17-11     Day 2: 5   17-07     Day 3: 5   20-12     Day 4: 5   23-04 

2.  Brandon Palaniuk       Rathdrum, ID            20  76-12   97  $25,500.00

  Day 1: 5   18-00     Day 2: 5   17-00     Day 3: 5   21-02     Day 4: 5   20-10 

3.  Aaron Martens          Leeds, AL               20  73-03   96  $20,000.00

  Day 1: 5   20-00     Day 2: 5   16-15     Day 3: 5   16-01     Day 4: 5   20-03 

4.  Dean Rojas             Lake Havasu City, AZ    20  66-14   95  $15,000.00

  Day 1: 5   19-14     Day 2: 5   17-14     Day 3: 5   13-08     Day 4: 5   15-10 

5.  Ott DeFoe              Knoxville, TN           20  61-05   94  $14,000.00

  Day 1: 5   16-11     Day 2: 5   14-11     Day 3: 5   15-00     Day 4: 5   14-15 

6.  James Niggemeyer       Van, TX                 20  60-08   93  $13,500.00

  Day 1: 5   16-09     Day 2: 5   12-13     Day 3: 5   13-15     Day 4: 5   17-03 

7.  Skeet Reese            Auburn, CA              20  59-05   92  $13,000.00

  Day 1: 5   16-00     Day 2: 5   12-06     Day 3: 5   16-01     Day 4: 5   14-14 

8.  Tommy Biffle           Wagoner, OK             20  58-15   91  $12,500.00

  Day 1: 5   17-01     Day 2: 5   13-12     Day 3: 5   16-10     Day 4: 5   11-08 

9.  Bernie Schultz         Gainesville, FL         20  57-04   90  $12,000.00

  Day 1: 5   14-14     Day 2: 5   14-12     Day 3: 5   12-13     Day 4: 5   14-13 

10. Ish Monroe             Hughson, CA             20  57-01   89  $11,500.00

  Day 1: 5   16-13     Day 2: 5   15-05     Day 3: 5   12-15     Day 4: 5   12-00 

11. Stephen Browning       Hot Springs, AR         16  44-08   88  $11,000.00

  Day 1: 5   14-10     Day 2: 5   14-15     Day 3: 5   13-06     Day 4: 1   01-09 

12. Russ Lane              Prattville, AL          15  42-09   87  $10,500.00

  Day 1: 5   12-12     Day 2: 5   17-04     Day 3: 5   12-09     Day 4: 0   00-00 

CARHARTT BIG BASS

     Jonathon VanDam          Kalamazoo, MI       05-11        $750.00

BERKLEY HEAVYWEIGHT

     Jonathon VanDam          Kalamazoo, MI       23-04        $500.00

———————————————————————–

Totals

Day   #Limits    #Fish      Weight

1        66       411      1118-10

2        49       354       964-04

3        32       201       531-15

4        10        51       166-09

———————————-                                

         157      1017      2781-06

2012 Points Report

PROFESSIONAL

ELITE SERIES

as of 01-Jul-2012

Angler Points Lbs-Oz

1 Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 566 219- 0

2 Ott DeFoe Knoxville, TN 553 217-12

3 Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 546 217-10

4 Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 527 194-14

5 Bill Lowen Brookville, IN 518 195-14

6 Matt Herren Trussville, AL 516 215- 5

7 Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 515 190- 1

8 Randy Howell Springville, AL 512 191-13

9 Edwin Evers Talala, OK 496 187- 2

10 Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City, AZ 494 213-10

11 David Walker Sevierville, TN 493 203-12

12 Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 490 203-10

13 Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 462 208- 5

14 Chris Lane Guntersville, AL 462 204- 6

15 Bobby Lane Lakeland, FL 448 188-14

16 Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 446 194- 9

17 Cliff Pace Petal, MS 446 184- 7

18 Brandon Card Caryville, TN 441 180-15

19 Shaw E Grigsby Jr. Gainesville, FL 431 186- 4

20 Alton Jones Woodway, TX 424 197-14

21 Mark Davis Mount Ida, AR 422 182- 2

22 Nate Wellman Newaygo, MI 421 181- 0

23 Yusuke Miyazaki Forney, TX 420 197-11

24 Gerald Swindle Warrior, AL 415 178- 8

25 John Crews Salem, VA 412 185- 8

26 Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 411 198-10

27 Cliff Prince Palatka, FL 411 179- 6

28 Russ Lane Prattville, AL 407 175-13

29 Rick Clunn Ava, MO 405 177-12

30 Steve Kennedy Auburn, AL 401 176-11

31 Michael Iaconelli Pittsgrove, NJ 397 182- 8

32 Marty Robinson Lyman, SC 397 177- 7

33 Keith Combs Huntington, TX 396 174- 8

34 Andy Montgomery Blacksburg, SC 395 172- 9

35 Mike McClelland Bella Vista, AR 392 168- 9

36 Jamie Horton Centreville, AL 391 168-14

37 Britt Myers Lake Wylie, SC 390 188- 3

38 Tommy Biffle Wagoner, OK 385 176- 7

39 Takahiro Omori Emory, TX 382 175- 0

40 Terry Butcher Talala, OK 380 167- 4

41 J Todd Tucker Moultrie, GA 379 168- 7

42 Timmy Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 373 163-14

43 Ish Monroe Hughson, CA 370 197-13

44 Jason Quinn Lake Wylie, SC 367 166- 7

45 Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, CA 365 167- 3

46 Greg Vinson Wetumpka, AL 365 163- 9

47 Mark Menendez Paducah, KY 365 157-14

48 Brandon Palaniuk Rathdrum, ID 357 188- 6

49 Scott Rook Little Rock, AR 354 176-11

50 Fred Roumbanis Bixby, OK 351 175-15

51 Gary Klein Weatherford, TX 350 168-12

52 Matt Reed Madisonville, TX 350 164-13

53 Boyd Duckett Demopolis, AL 350 158- 3

54 Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 349 161-14

55 Casey D Ashley Donalds, SC 346 177- 4

56 Derek Remitz Grant, AL 346 169- 9

57 Bradley Roy Lancaster, KY 345 166- 0

58 Rick Morris Virginia Beach, VA 340 179- 1

59 Davy Hite Ninety Six, SC 338 169-14

60 Jeremy Starks Scott Depot, WV 337 174-14

61 Kelly Jordon Palestine, TX 331 162-11

62 Cliff Crochet Pierre Part, LA 327 160- 9

63 Kyle A. Fox Lakeland, FL 321 160-13

64 Chris Zaldain San Jose, CA 315 173- 0

65 Pete Ponds Madison, MS 309 173- 9

66 Jonathon VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 305 164-10

67 Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 305 159- 9

68 Kevin Short Mayflower, AR 297 157- 1

69 Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, MO 295 159- 5

70 Dustin Wilks Rocky Mount, NC 295 152-10

71 Travis Manson De Pere, WI 291 158- 9

72 Scott Ashmore Broken Arrow, OK 289 152- 6

73 Keith Poche Pike Road, AL 289 150- 1

74 Matt Greenblatt Port St Lucie, FL 283 156- 7

75 Zell Rowland Montgomery, TX 280 152-10

76 Paul Elias Laurel, MS 276 146- 5

77 Fletcher Shryock Newcomerstown, OH 273 163-11

78 Denny Brauer Camdenton, MO 268 158- 2

79 Kevin Ledoux Choctaw, OK 265 153- 2

80 James Niggemeyer Van, TX 265 149-15

81 John Murray Phoenix, AZ 249 148- 3

82 Russell Parrish Riesel, TX 249 145-13

83 Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, AL 249 137-10

84 Morizo Shimizu Osaka, JPN 245 150- 4

85 Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 225 138- 4

86 Jami Fralick Martin, SD 219 134- 2

87 Billy McCaghren Mayflower, AR 207 138- 6

88 Casey Scanlon Lenexa, KS 204 144- 2

89 Clark Reehm Shreveport, LA 197 127-12

90 Grant Goldbeck Boerne, TX 194 118- 7

91 David Smith Del City, OK 191 142- 8

92 Charlie Hartley Grove City, OH 181 138- 8

93 Kenyon Hill Norman, OK 169 137- 8

94 Byron Velvick Boenre, TX 169 129- 1

95 Michael Simonton Fremont, OH 159 127- 1

96 Jared Miller Norman, OK 154 111-14

97 Brent Broderick Oregonia, OH 150 110-12

98 Pat Golden Bethlehem, GA 131 103- 6

99 Chad Griffin Cresson, TX 120 111-10