ANDERSON, S.C. — Justy Varkevisser missed the cut in his eight previous trips to the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship. The South African broke the trend — with emphasis — on his ninth try.
Varkevisser caught a five-bass limit Thursday that weighed 10 pounds, 15 ounces. Coupled with his Day 1 total of 11-6, he not only made the cut, but he grabbed the lead heading into the final day of the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship tournament on Lake Hartwell.
Varkevisser is fishing offshore and targeting spotted bass on this 56,000-acre fishery in the northwest corner of the Palmetto State. He only had six bites Thursday, but the five bass he caught were good enough to vault him to the top of the leaderboard.
“It’s been a very slow catching process for me,” Varkevisser said. “I’m trying to capitalize on the slightly bigger fish, but it’s been a bit of a nerve-wracking situation because you’re not sure you’re going to going to get your limit. The windows of opportunity come along, and you have to make sure you take advantage of them when they come.”
He’s hoping he can make the most of his chances Friday, too, now that he’s finally in position to win a B.A.S.S. Nation Championship.
“I’m very excited,” said Varkevisser “I’ve been trying to make the cut in this tournament for many years. It’s an awesome accomplishment for me.”
Varkevisser is one of 12 anglers in the field of 115 that survived the cut and will fish Friday’s final round. The three anglers with the heaviest overall totals will qualify for the Bassmaster Classic, which is set for March 6-8 on Lake Guntersville and Birmingham in Alabama. The overall leader on Friday also will receive an invitation to fish the 2020 Bassmaster Elite Series and paid entry into the Bassmaster Opens division of the angler’s choice.
The final-round group is composed of Tennessee’s Nobuyuki Terajima, second place, 21-5; Montana’s Tim Johnston, third, 21-1; Australia’s Matthew Langford, fourth, 21-1; New Hampshire’s Cam Sterritt, 20-11; Idaho’s Taylor Smith, sixth, 20-8; South Dakota’s Brock Belik, seventh, 19-12; Washington’s Kelly Kellogg, eighth, 19-2; Portugal’s Pedro Rodrigues, ninth, 19-1; and Oregon’s Cody Hollen, 10th, 19-0.
They are joined by nonboater champion Stanley Beebe of California and Greg Alexander of Team Delaware, who finished 13th overall in the boater field. Alexander made the cut by virtue of finishing in second place among tournament anglers who qualified through the Eastern Regional.
B.A.S.S. Nation rules dictate that the top two boaters from each region make the cut if they don’t finish in the Top 10 heading into the final day of the Championship. Seven of the Top 10 making the cut qualified for the Championship via the Western Regional, two qualified in the Central Regional and one came from the Eastern Regional.
Beebe, who hails from San Luis Obispo, Calif., won the nonboater division of the B.A.S.S. Nation Championship with a two-day total of 17-13 He caught 6-13 Wednesday and 11-0 a day later. Beebe’s 11-pound sack was the second-heaviest caught by a nonboater in the tournament. He fished Thursday with Sterritt, who caught the biggest bag of the tournament (13-8). Beebe collected a $10,000 Skeeter/Yamaha cash award and entry into the 2020 Bassmaster Opens division of his choice.
“We were just on them all day long,” Beebe said. “I thought everyone would be on them with the way we were catching. I thought I had about nine pounds, so I feel pretty lucky. I made a last-minute cull that probably gave me an extra pound.”
New Mexico’s Brad Hauf finished second in the nonboater division with 17-8. Scott Perrine, a nonboater from Bonneau, S.C., maintained the lead for the Phoenix Boats Big Bass Award with the 6-1 he caught Wednesday. The angler who catches the heaviest bass of the tournament will collect $1,000. Anglers from 47 states and 11 foreign countries are competing on Lake Hartwell this week for a total of $140,300 in prize money.
2019 B.A.S.S. Nation Championship Lake Hartwell 11/6-11/8
Lake Hartwell, Anderson SC.
(BOATER) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Justy Varkevisser Johannesburg SOUTH AFRI 10 22-05 0
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 10-15
2. Nobuyuki Terajima Hermitage, TN 10 21-05 0
Day 1: 5 10-11 Day 2: 5 10-10
3. Tim Johnston Kalispell , MT 10 21-01 0
Day 1: 5 11-13 Day 2: 5 09-04
4. Matthew Langford Kingaroy Queensland AUS 10 21-01 0
Day 1: 5 10-09 Day 2: 5 10-08
5. Cam Sterritt Newfields, NH 10 20-11 0
Day 1: 5 07-03 Day 2: 5 13-08
6. Taylor Smith Spokane Valley, WA 10 20-08 0
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 5 10-08
7. Brock Belik Orchard, NE 10 19-12 0
Day 1: 5 11-15 Day 2: 5 07-13
8. Kelly Kellogg Kelso, WA 10 19-02 0
Day 1: 5 08-04 Day 2: 5 10-14
9. Pedro Rodrigues Evora Portugal PORTUGAL 10 19-01 0
Day 1: 5 10-10 Day 2: 5 08-07
10. Cody Hollen Beaverton, OR 10 19-00 0
Day 1: 5 09-02 Day 2: 5 09-14
11. Randy Pierson Oakdale, CA 10 18-14 0
Day 1: 5 07-15 Day 2: 5 10-15
12. Steve Lund Glendale, AZ 10 18-07 0
Day 1: 5 11-01 Day 2: 5 07-06
13. Greg Alexander Hebron, MD 10 18-07 0
Day 1: 5 10-14 Day 2: 5 07-09
14. Ricardo Gonzalez Monterrey MEXICO 10 18-03 0
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 5 08-03
15. Al Gambardella North Haven, CT 10 18-01 0
Day 1: 5 08-03 Day 2: 5 09-14
16. James Biggs Euless, TX 10 17-14 0
Day 1: 5 08-04 Day 2: 5 09-10
17. Steve Tosh Modesto, CA 10 17-13 0
Day 1: 5 07-03 Day 2: 5 10-10
18. Ted Prisbe Harsens Island, MI 10 17-12 0
Day 1: 5 09-08 Day 2: 5 08-04
19. Jason Pittman Covington, MS 10 17-10 0
Day 1: 5 06-12 Day 2: 5 10-14
20. Matthew Robertson Kuttawa, KY 10 17-07 0
Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 5 07-01
21. Nate Caldwell Fort Collins, CO 10 17-05 0
Day 1: 5 08-10 Day 2: 5 08-11
22. Keith Glasgow Guin, AL 10 16-15 0
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 5 06-03
23. Thomas Nokes Riverton, UT 10 16-13 0
Day 1: 5 09-00 Day 2: 5 07-13
24. Ramiro Ruben Tarazona Sicilia Tarazona SPAIN 10 16-11 0
Day 1: 5 09-15 Day 2: 5 06-12
25. Levi McNeill West Valley City, UT 10 16-05 0
Day 1: 5 08-05 Day 2: 5 08-00
26. Laurence Hogue Kennebunk, ME 10 16-04 0
Day 1: 5 07-13 Day 2: 5 08-07
27. Ken Carter Enterprise, FL 10 16-03 0
Day 1: 5 07-06 Day 2: 5 08-13
28. Kenny Hansel Los Alamos, NM 10 16-01 0
Day 1: 5 08-15 Day 2: 5 07-02
29. Chris Sperling Cato, NY 10 16-00 0
Day 1: 5 06-11 Day 2: 5 09-05
30. Timothy Klinger Boulder City, NV 10 15-13 0
Day 1: 5 08-10 Day 2: 5 07-03
31. Brandon Morris Harrisonburg, VA 10 15-10 0
Day 1: 5 10-01 Day 2: 5 05-09
32. Keith Cowan Mt Ephraim, NJ 10 15-10 0
Day 1: 5 06-12 Day 2: 5 08-14
33. Kris Bosley Amarillo, TX 9 15-06 0
Day 1: 4 05-11 Day 2: 5 09-11
34. Nicholas Prvonozac Warren, OH 7 15-02 0
Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 2 04-03
35. Gary Schild Mundelein, IL 7 14-09 0
Day 1: 2 02-13 Day 2: 5 11-12
36. Kenny Mittelstaedt Minnetonka, MN 10 14-06 0
Day 1: 5 06-13 Day 2: 5 07-09
37. Liam MacDonald Glen Lorne Harare ZIMB 9 14-05 0
Day 1: 4 07-09 Day 2: 5 06-12
38. Katsutoshi Furusawa Kanagawa JAPAN 8 14-04 0
Day 1: 5 08-00 Day 2: 3 06-04
39. Jeremy Montgomery Overland Park, KS 9 14-01 0
Day 1: 4 05-08 Day 2: 5 08-09
40. Jay Phillips Bancroft, WV 10 13-15 0
Day 1: 5 07-02 Day 2: 5 06-13
41. Greg Walker Manning, SC 8 13-12 0
Day 1: 5 06-07 Day 2: 3 07-05
42. Chris Moody Brooks, GA 7 13-09 0
Day 1: 5 10-08 Day 2: 2 03-01
43. Andrew Sams Easton, MD 10 13-09 0
Day 1: 5 07-09 Day 2: 5 06-00
44. Dylan Welch Castleton, VT 7 12-12 0
Day 1: 2 03-11 Day 2: 5 09-01
45. Eduardo Trevino South Elgin, IL 8 12-12 0
Day 1: 5 08-04 Day 2: 3 04-08
46. Enrico Zancanaro Rovigo ITALY 10 12-10 0
Day 1: 5 06-12 Day 2: 5 05-14
47. Mike Wallis Hallsville, MO 8 12-02 0
Day 1: 4 06-09 Day 2: 4 05-09
48. Howard Hartley Patterson, LA 7 11-14 0
Day 1: 2 02-04 Day 2: 5 09-10
49. Andy Smith Jacksonville, FL 7 11-09 0
Day 1: 5 09-06 Day 2: 2 02-03
50. Josh Cotier Clinton, MA 10 11-05 0
Day 1: 5 06-04 Day 2: 5 05-01
51. Kenneth Reed Buck, IN 6 11-02 0
Day 1: 3 06-00 Day 2: 3 05-02
52. Douglas Savino Tyrone, PA 10 10-14 0
Day 1: 5 05-01 Day 2: 5 05-13
53. Tony Puelz Garnavillo, IA 8 10-04 0
Day 1: 3 03-11 Day 2: 5 06-09
54. Mark Borchers Akron, IA 7 09-13 0
Day 1: 3 04-09 Day 2: 4 05-04
55. Allan Reaves Pottsville, AR 7 09-10 0
Day 1: 5 06-08 Day 2: 2 03-02
56. Thinus Williams Windhoek NAMIBIA 7 09-08 0
Day 1: 2 02-04 Day 2: 5 07-04
57. Mike Wolfenden Warwick, RI 8 08-08 0
Day 1: 5 05-02 Day 2: 3 03-06
58. Rick Eller Taylorsville, NC 7 08-06 0
Day 1: 5 06-02 Day 2: 2 02-04
59. Mark Cavanaugh Port Perry ONTARIO CANA 5 06-13 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 06-13
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 47 268 455-15
2 47 268 450-13
----------------------------------
94 536 906-12
2019 B.A.S.S. Nation Championship Lake Hartwell 11/6-11/8
Lake Hartwell, Anderson SC.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 2
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Stanley Beebe San Luis obispo, CA 9 17-13 0 $10,000.00
Day 1: 4 06-13 Day 2: 5 11-00
2. Brad Hauf Elephant Butte, NM 10 17-08 0 $7,500.00
Day 1: 5 07-04 Day 2: 5 10-04
3. Taylor Burgin Palo, ID 10 17-05 0 $5,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-07 Day 2: 5 07-14
4. Kyle Graham North Ogden, UT 10 17-00 0 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 10-03 Day 2: 5 06-13
5. Gary Schipporeit Westminster, CO 10 16-11 0 $2,000.00
Day 1: 5 08-04 Day 2: 5 08-07
6. David Stafford Sanger, TX 9 16-08 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 4 08-00 Day 2: 5 08-08
7. Devin Pino Kansas City, KS 10 16-07 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 07-13 Day 2: 5 08-10
8. Barry Ward Louisville, KY 10 16-02 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 04-12
9. Jonathan Bryson Las Vegas, NV 10 15-15 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 07-05 Day 2: 5 08-10
10. Aaron Russell Hoschton, GA 10 15-14 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 08-00 Day 2: 5 07-14
11. Austin Johnson Noxon, MT 9 15-13 0 $500.00
Day 1: 4 05-13 Day 2: 5 10-00
12. Scott Seros Bend, OR 9 15-13 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 09-09 Day 2: 4 06-04
13. Chris Morrison St. Mary's, WV 10 14-14 0
Day 1: 5 06-06 Day 2: 5 08-08
14. Jordan Schwartzkopf Peoria, AZ 10 14-12 0
Day 1: 5 07-02 Day 2: 5 07-10
15. Luis Vilar Madrid SPAIN 9 14-10 0
Day 1: 5 09-01 Day 2: 4 05-09
16. Michael Duell II Syracuse, NY 10 14-09 0
Day 1: 5 05-14 Day 2: 5 08-11
17. Ruan Wahl Witbank South Africa SO 9 14-09 0
Day 1: 4 06-14 Day 2: 5 07-11
18. Aaron Cherry KINSEY, AL 8 14-04 0
Day 1: 3 05-03 Day 2: 5 09-01
19. Jurgen Geiger Windhoek Namibia NAMIBI 10 14-03 0
Day 1: 5 07-02 Day 2: 5 07-01
20. Mike Szczechowski Strafford, MO 6 14-01 0
Day 1: 2 06-13 Day 2: 4 07-04
21. Ryan Gutierrez Weiser, ID 10 13-13 0
Day 1: 5 07-05 Day 2: 5 06-08
22. JR Clark Milton, DE 9 13-12 0
Day 1: 4 05-01 Day 2: 5 08-11
23. Kuniaki Taga Aichi JAPAN 10 13-10 0
Day 1: 5 08-05 Day 2: 5 05-05
24. Marcus Futter Harare ZIMBABWE 10 13-06 0
Day 1: 5 06-05 Day 2: 5 07-01
25. Kelvin Grubbs Pryor, OK 9 13-05 0
Day 1: 4 03-09 Day 2: 5 09-12
26. Mark Melega Rice Landing, PA 9 13-04 0
Day 1: 5 08-12 Day 2: 4 04-08
27. Curtis Hughes Greenwood, IN 7 12-12 0
Day 1: 4 07-02 Day 2: 3 05-10
28. John Jasper Lemont, IL 10 12-12 0
Day 1: 5 06-12 Day 2: 5 06-00
29. Justin Foster Bude, MS 9 12-08 0
Day 1: 4 05-15 Day 2: 5 06-09
30. Addam Gross Pendleton, OR 10 12-02 0
Day 1: 5 06-06 Day 2: 5 05-12
31. Zach Yarnes Lakeville, MN 8 11-11 0
Day 1: 4 04-13 Day 2: 4 06-14
32. Justin Hymel Norco, LA 8 11-10 0
Day 1: 3 03-08 Day 2: 5 08-02
33. Eduardo Fouto Montariguil Portugal PO 8 11-08 0
Day 1: 5 07-12 Day 2: 3 03-12
34. Austin Pittman Maumelle, AR 9 11-08 0
Day 1: 4 04-07 Day 2: 5 07-01
35. Rj Ricci Cranston, RI 8 10-14 0
Day 1: 3 03-08 Day 2: 5 07-06
36. Scott Perrine Bonneau, SC 4 10-08 0
Day 1: 2 07-00 Day 2: 2 03-08
37. Greg Chesnut Bedford, VA 10 10-05 0
Day 1: 5 05-09 Day 2: 5 04-12
38. Dan Posey Niles, MI 8 10-04 0
Day 1: 3 04-01 Day 2: 5 06-03
39. Casey Marshall Frederick, MD 6 08-14 0
Day 1: 2 02-09 Day 2: 4 06-05
40. Jordan Trainor Erin, TN 6 08-01 0
Day 1: 5 06-14 Day 2: 1 01-03
41. Eduardo Olalla Col. Lomasn Del Tecnolo 6 07-08 0
Day 1: 4 04-02 Day 2: 2 03-06
42. Todd Stiehl Winner, SD 7 07-05 0
Day 1: 5 04-15 Day 2: 2 02-06
43. Brock Gullixon Lola, WI 4 06-13 0
Day 1: 2 04-06 Day 2: 2 02-07
44. Angela Mayo Maiden, NC 5 06-06 0
Day 1: 3 02-14 Day 2: 2 03-08
45. Brenda Swett Auburn, ME 4 06-04 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 4 06-04
46. Bryan McCleary Watertown, CT 5 06-02 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 06-02
47. John Foster Byfield, MA 5 05-13 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 5 05-13
48. Gregory Decell Bridgewater, VT 3 05-06 0
Day 1: 2 02-12 Day 2: 1 02-10
49. Ray Rios Budd Lake, NJ 3 04-13 0
Day 1: 2 03-04 Day 2: 1 01-09
50. Brian Jarvis Coventry, RI 2 03-13 0
Day 1: 1 02-08 Day 2: 1 01-05
51. Vincent Scaillerez Bedarrides FRANCE 3 03-11 0
Day 1: 2 02-03 Day 2: 1 01-08
52. Greg Pink Montrose, CO 7 03-03 0
Day 1: 5 01-03 Day 2: 2 02-00
53. Phillip Rummel Jr Mount Vernon, OH 1 01-13 0
Day 1: 1 01-13 Day 2: 0 00-00
54. Scott Blaesi Hershey, NE 1 01-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 1 01-00
55. David Cohen St Augustine, FL 1 00-14 0
Day 1: 1 00-14 Day 2: 0 00-00
56. Ed Vienneau Shelburne, OR 0 00-00 0
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 25 201 300-11
2 32 212 321-03
----------------------------------
57 413 621-14