NATCHITOCHES, La. (Oct. 27, 2003) - Kevin Short of Mayflower, Ark., bested 113 Boater Division competitors this weekend at the Bass Fishing League Regional tournament on the Red River to win a new Chevy truck and an Evinrude- or Yamaha-powered Ranger 519VS Comanche bass boat. The postseason victory also earned him a slot in the 2004 Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League All-American, where he will compete for a top boater award of $100,000 cash.
Short advanced to the regional by finishing the regular season ranked seventh in BFL Arkie Division points standings. The top 30 boaters and co-anglers in the Arkie Division competed against the top 30 Bama, Cowboy and Gulf Coast division anglers for one of six slots in next year's All-American. They will join the top six from five other regionals plus the Chevy Trucks Wild Card for an All-American field of 42 boaters and 42 co-anglers.
Short caught four bass Thursday weighing 12 pounds, 8 ounces to finish fourth, and he followed that up Friday with 12 pounds, 5 ounces to sit in the No. 2 position after day two's competition with a two-day total of 24 pounds, 13 ounces. The top six finishers after day two competed a third day for position and prize money based on their total three-day weight, and Short led the field with a three-day total of 34 pounds, 10 ounces. All six automatically earned a berth to the All-American.
Rounding out the top six boaters are Charles Cummings of Leeds, Ala. (30 pounds, 14 ounces, $5,000); Phil Hennigan of Center, Texas (29 pounds, 2 ounces, $2,500); Eric Ambort of Mabelvale, Ark. (26 pounds, 6 ounces, $2,000); Shane Allman of Sam Rayburn, Texas (24 pounds, 5 ounces, $1,500); and Tim Johnson of Dallas, Ga. (21 pounds, 10 ounces, $1,000). Ties are resolved by day-two standings.
Short also earned a $1,000 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.
Jamie Amerson of Pine Mountain, Ga., won an Evinrude- or Yamaha-powered Ranger boat as the Co-angler Division winner thanks to his three-day total of 29 pounds, 1 ounce. Amerson caught five bass weighing 5 pounds, 14 ounces on day one to finish 19th, and he finished first after day two thanks to another 14 pounds, 2 ounces that set his two-day total at 20 pounds. Amerson will compete for a top co-angler award of $50,000 at the 2004 All-American.
Rounding out the top six co-anglers are Scott Boatright of Sheridan, Ark. (22 pounds, 8 ounces, $2,500); Jeffrey Wharton of Humble, Texas (18 pounds, 3 ounces, $1,250); Kevin Wright of Andalusia, Ala. (16 pounds, 3 ounces, $1,000); Roger Dousay of Livingston, Texas (14 pounds, 11 ounces, $750); and Allen Crawley of Prentiss, Miss. (13 pounds, 14 ounces, $500).