EVANS, Ga. - Dedicating the win to his dying father, Kenyon Hill of Norman, Okla., scored his third BASS win with a four-day total of 68 pounds, 0 ounces, on stingy Clarks Hill Lake at the Pride of Georgia bass fishing tournament. Hill held off local favorite Davy Hite, who won the 2006 Elite event on Clarks Hill, and Saturday leader Edwin Evers, also of Oklahoma.
While other anglers faltered, Hill managed a consistent bite that got stronger as the tournament progressed. He weighed his heaviest limit Sunday, 18 pounds, 2 ounces, to close the victory and earn the $100,000 top prize. His Sunday limit was anchored by a 7-pound, 1-ounce brute that fell for a swimbait, good enough for Purolator Big Bass Honors and the $1,000 premium.
In addition to the prize money, Hill earned significant points in the all-important Bassmaster Angler of the Year Standings and jumped to sixth in the standings. The winner of the season-long points chase earns $250,000 and the standings also determine the brunt of the 2009 Bassmaster Classic qualifiers.
While the accolades were "special", Hill had one thing on his mind, his dying father, Loren, when he accepted the trophy.
"He supported me emotionally and financially when I decided I wanted to be a professional angler," Hill said of his father, who was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. "I want to get the trophy to him as soon as possible so he can have it sit on his mantle. He doesn't have much time left but I know this will make him feel good."
Throughout the four-day tournament, Hill targeted shallow water located in six points that featured a hard bottom. The 43-year-old visited and revisited the spots, working a variety of lures, including a pencil popper, a swimbait and a Carolina rig. He felt that the Carolina Rig was his "safety net" and allowed him to throw the other lures to entice the bigger bass.
Hill had come close before at Clarks Hill, finishing second to Hite in 2006. The difference, he said, was his willingness to adapt to the conditions and mix up his presentation.
"This is such special deal," said Hill, who has earned nearly $900,000 in BASS career earnings. "My last win was in 2003. I almost forgot what it felt like."
Hite, who outlasted Hill in 2006, ended up second for his best finish of 2008. The finish vaulted the Prosperity, S.C., pro from 79th to 50th in the AOY standings and after a slow start, should add some momentum to his season.
Like 2006, Hite used a mop jig and "grinded it out" throughout the week. He was excited about the next stop on the Elite Series, a May 15-18 event on South Carolina's Lake Murray, as he considers it a home lake along with Clarks Hill.
"I swung for the fences this week and I have no regrets," said Hite, a 7-time BASS winner. "It feels good to be home and I am looking forward to next week."
Dropping to third was Evers, who held a more than 1-pound advantage heading into the final day. The lack of wind and bluebird skies ultimately killed his bite and he was unable to register a quick start as he did Friday and Saturday.
Rounding out the top five was three-time Angler of the Year Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich., in fourth with 55 pounds, 1 ounce, and local favorite Casey Ashley of Donalds, S.C., in fifth with 54 pounds, 10 ounces.
Also in the star-studded final 12 were 2007 Angler of the Year Skeet Reese (ninth) and 2008 Bassmaster Classic champion Alton Jones (11th). The Clarks Hill event was the fifth of 11 events for the 108 Elite Series pros. Next, the circuit travels to Columbia, S.C., and Lake Murray on May 15-18.
2008 Bassmaster Elite Series Pride of Georgia Results- Day 4
2008 Pride of Georgia 5/1-5/4
Clarks Hill Lake, Columbia County GA.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 4
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Kenyon Hill Norman, OK 20 68-00 305 $102,500.00
Day 1: 5 17-00 Day 2: 5 14-13 Day 3: 5 18-01 Day 4: 5 18-02
2. Davy Hite Ninety Six, SC 20 59-08 295 $31,000.00
Day 1: 5 18-15 Day 2: 5 09-02 Day 3: 5 18-14 Day 4: 5 12-09
3. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 18 57-01 300 $28,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-01 Day 2: 5 18-13 Day 3: 5 17-03 Day 4: 3 06-00
4. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 20 55-01 285 $18,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-07 Day 2: 5 11-06 Day 3: 5 16-13 Day 4: 5 13-07
5. Casey Ashley Donalds, SC 20 54-10 280 $17,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 5 16-12 Day 3: 5 13-05 Day 4: 5 12-06
6. Timmy Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 20 54-02 276 $15,500.00
Day 1: 5 09-01 Day 2: 5 17-11 Day 3: 5 15-15 Day 4: 5 11-07
7. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 20 53-15 272 $15,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 5 13-07 Day 3: 5 17-02 Day 4: 5 13-00
8. Peter E Thliveros St Augustine, FL 20 53-11 268 $14,500.00
Day 1: 5 12-02 Day 2: 5 15-05 Day 3: 5 16-13 Day 4: 5 09-07
9. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA 20 53-06 264 $14,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-03 Day 2: 5 15-03 Day 3: 5 14-07 Day 4: 5 11-09
10. Denny Brauer Camdenton, MO 20 52-04 265 $24,500.00
Day 1: 5 22-00 Day 2: 5 09-12 Day 3: 5 09-09 Day 4: 5 10-15
11. Alton Jones Waco, TX 20 49-03 257 $12,500.00
Day 1: 5 16-12 Day 2: 5 13-09 Day 3: 5 10-10 Day 4: 5 08-04
12. David Smith Del City, OK 20 48-09 254 $13,800.00
Day 1: 5 17-04 Day 2: 5 12-11 Day 3: 5 10-13 Day 4: 5 07-13
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BIG BASS
Day
1 David Smith Del City, OK 07-01 $1,000.00
2 Edwin Evers Talala, OK 06-07 $1,000.00
3 Edwin Evers Talala, OK 05-14 $1,000.00
4 Kenyon Hill Norman, OK 07-01 $1,000.00
David Smith Del City, OK 07-01 $500.00
Kenyon Hill Norman, OK 07-01 $500.00
Day
1 Denny Brauer Camdenton, MO 22-00 $1,000.00
2 Edwin Evers Talala, OK 18-13 $1,000.00
3 Davy Hite Ninety Six, SC 18-14 $1,000.00
4 Kenyon Hill Norman, OK 18-02 $1,000.00
Denny Brauer Camdenton, MO 22-00 $10,000.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 94 515 1152-06
2 99 522 1126-02
3 45 241 586-00
4 11 58 134-15
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249 1336 2999-07
Bassmaster Angler of the Year Standings
Pro Points After Clarks Hill Lake
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Place Name St Pts
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1 Todd Faircloth Texas 1267
2 Mike McClelland Ark. 1240
3 Skeet Reese Calif. 1204
4 Scott Rook Ark. 1199
5 Dean Rojas Ariz. 1195
6 Kenyon Hill Okla. 1186
7 Alton Jones Texas 1163
8 Kevin VanDam Mich. 1155
9 Mark Davis Ark. 1152
10 Bobby Lane Fla. 1109
11 Derek Remitz Ala. 1108
12 Gary Klein Texas 1105
13 Rick Morris Va. 1085
13 Bryan Hudgins Fla. 1085
15 Casey Ashley S.C. 1071
16 Edwin Evers Okla. 1067
17 Randy Howell Ala. 1063
18 Britt Myers S.C. 1058
19 Terry Scroggins Fla. 1055
20 Fred Roumbanis Okla. 1031
21 Bill Lowen Ohio 1015
22 Brian Snowden Mo. 1007
23 Jared Lintner Calif. 1002
24 Michael Iaconelli N.J. 1000
25 Bernie Schultz Fla. 999
26 Kevin Short Ark. 996
27 Ish Monroe Calif. 977
28 Morizo Shimizu Japan 971
29 Kotaro Kiriyama Ala. 942
30 Dave Wolak N.C. 935
31 Aaron Martens Ala. 933
32 Billy Brewer Texas 931
33 Dustin Wilks N.C. 923
34 Denny Brauer Mo. 921
35 Brent Chapman Kan. 918
36 Byron Velvick Texas 917
37 Kelly Jordon Texas 916
37 Shaw Grigsby Fla. 916
37 Steve Kennedy Ala. 916
40 Ray Sedgwick S.C. 913
41 Jason Quinn S.C. 910
42 Jason Williamson S.C. 906
42 Takahiro Omori Texas 906
44 Mark Menendez Ky. 903
45 Timmy Horton Ala. 891
46 Gerald Swindle Ala. 889
47 Scott Campbell Mo. 880
48 Cliff Pace Miss. 878
49 Jeff Kriet Okla. 868
50 Davy Hite S.C. 866
51 Chris Lane Fla. 858
52 Russ Lane Ala. 850
53 Kevin Wirth Ky. 834
54 Preston Clark Fla. 826
55 John Crews Va. 824
56 Mike Wurm Ark. 823
57 Tommy Biffle Okla. 818
58 Clark Reehm Ark. 814
59 Bradley Hallman Okla. 811
60 Greg Hackney La. 808
61 Peter Thliveros Fla. 806
62 Matt Reed Texas 793
63 Boyd Duckett Ala. 787
64 Marty Stone N.C. 778
65 Brian Clark Texas 772
66 Paul Elias Miss. 764
66 Jay Fuller Okla. 764
68 Rick Clunn Mo. 763
69 Greg Gutierrez Calif. 759
70 Wade Grooms S.C. 751
71 Jeff Reynolds Okla. 744
72 Jimmy Mize Ark. 737
73 Jim Murray Ga. 726
74 Ben Matsubu Texas 722
74 Yusuke Miyazaki Texas 722
74 Matthew Sphar N.Y. 722
77 Elton Luce Texas 709
78 Jon Bondy Canada 700
79 Pat Golden N.C. 695
80 Jami Fralick S.D. 693
81 Zell Rowland Texas 687
82 Stephen Browning Ark. 684
83 Jeff Connella La. 679
84 Guy Eaker N.C. 675
85 Terry Butcher Okla. 671
86 Marty Robinson S.C. 668
87 Kevin Langill N.C. 662
88 Kurt Dove Va. 653
88 Rick Ash Pa. 653
90 Mark Tucker Mo. 649
91 Charlie Hartley Ohio 647
92 Mark Tyler Okla. 643
93 James Niggemeyer Texas 634
94 David Sherrer La. 624
95 John Murray Ariz. 622
96 Ken Cook Okla. 621
97 David Smith Okla. 611
98 Grant Goldbeck Md. 573
99 Steve Daniel Fla. 572
99 Todd Auten S.C. 572
101 James Kennedy La. 565
102 Jeremy Starks W.Va. 551
103 Corey Waldrop Texas 537
104 Paul Hirosky Pa. 506
105 Pete Ponds Miss. 498
106 Glenn Delong Ohio 496
107 Randy Allen La. 473
108 Matt Amedeo Ohio 446
109 Bobby Myers Okla. 438
Rookie of the Year
2008 ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
After Clarks Hill Lake
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Place Name St Pts
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1 Bobby Lane Fla. 1109
2 Billy Brewer Texas 931
3 Clark Reehm Ark. 814
4 Brian Clark Texas 772
5 Jay Fuller Okla. 764
6 Wade Grooms S.C. 751
7 Pat Golden N.C. 695
8 David Sherrer La. 624
9 Corey Waldrop Texas 537
10 Randy Allen La. 473
11 Bobby Myers Okla. 438