COLUMBUS, Miss. - August 23, 2003 - Kevin Short saved the best for last in the CITGO Bassmaster Central Open presented by Busch Beer, bringing in a 17 pound final day limit to claim the victory on the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway.
"I knew the area I was fishing had potential because of the amount of bait fish I saw," said Short, who earns $50,000 for his first career win. "I relied on the same two areas throughout the week. This fishery is similar to the lake I live on in Arkansas, so that helped."
Short's three-day total of 39 pounds 4 ounces gave him a 4-10 margin of victory over Doug Garrett. Arkansas' Garrett maintained second place throughout the event ending up with a final weight of 34-10. Day two leader Edwin Evers of Okla. finished third with 32-15 while fellow Oklahoman Tim Carroll finished fourth with 30-8. Mississippi's Jeff Magee took fifth with 26-14.
"I told everybody I was going to gamble and run south today," said Garrett who spoke throughout the event of a favorite spot in the south portion of the lake. "I wanted everybody to think that I had run south. At the last minute I went back to the same spot I've fished all week to try and hold onto second."
Short relied primarily on crankbaits near submerged cypress trees to amass his winning weight. Consistent improvement was necessary for Short who was in 23rd after the first day of competition and third after day 2.
"The main thing that helped me today, was a lack of boat traffic in the area," explained Short who has fished BASS events since 1999. "I believe the traffic kept the bigger fish down. Today it was real quiet."
Texan Scott Darragh's 17-7 was good enough for the win on the non-boater side of the competition. Darragh receives a fully-rigged bass boat for his efforts valued at $24,000. Louisiana's Dinnon Butler finished second with 17-2, while Texan Bret Myers took third with 16-13.
Sponsors of the CITGO Bassmaster Tournament Trail presented by Busch Beer include CITGO Petroleum Corp., Busch Beer, Chevrolet Trucks, Yamaha Outboards, Mercury Marine, Skeeter Boats, Triton Boats, Lowrance Electronics, Flowmaster Exhaust Systems, Kumho Tires, Progressive Insurance, Abu Garcia, Berkley, Diamond Cut Jeans, MotorGuide Trolling Motors, and BankOne.
Associate Sponsors include Bryant Heating and Air Conditioning and G3 Boats.
Local sponsors include: Columbus Convention & Visitors Bureau
2003 CITGO Bassmaster Central Open presented by Busch Beer 08/21-08/23 Tennessee-Tombigbee, Columbus Miss. (BOATER) Standings Day 3 Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$ 1. Kevin Short Mayflower, Ark. 15 39-04 $50,000.00 Day 1: 5 8-09 Day 2: 5 13-11 Day 3: 5 17-00 2. Doug Garrett Cabot, Ark. 15 34-10 $40,000.00 Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 9-14 Day 3: 5 11-01 3. Edwin Evers Mannsville, Okla. 15 32-15 $16,000.00 Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 5 13-03 Day 3: 5 6-12 4. Tim Carroll Owasso, Okla. 15 30-08 $12,000.00 Day 1: 5 10-06 Day 2: 5 8-06 Day 3: 5 11-12 5. Jeff Magee Mendenhall, Miss. 15 26-14 $7,500.00 Day 1: 5 7-15 Day 2: 5 8-08 Day 3: 5 10-07 6. Greg Hackney Gonzales, La. 11 26-03 $6,800.00 Day 1: 5 14-02 Day 2: 3 8-01 Day 3: 3 4-00 7. Steve Sennikoff Forney, Texas 13 25-10 $5,500.00 Day 1: 5 7-11 Day 2: 5 10-10 Day 3: 3 7-05 8. Ross Watkins Carriere, Miss. 11 23-08 $5,000.00 Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 3 6-04 Day 3: 3 5-09 9. Jason Reyes Humble, Texas 10 22-13 $4,500.00 Day 1: 5 10-05 Day 2: 4 11-05 Day 3: 1 1-03 10. Robert Chestnut Schertz, Texas 14 22-06 $4,000.00 Day 1: 5 8-13 Day 2: 4 4-14 Day 3: 5 8-11 11. Al Fisher Hackett, Ark. 14 22-04 $3,500.00 Day 1: 4 5-02 Day 2: 5 6-08 Day 3: 5 10-10 12. Todd Faircloth Jasper, Texas 11 21-09 $3,000.00 Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 5 9-06 Day 3: 1 1-00 13. Rick Clunn Ava, Mo. 11 21-08 $2,500.00 Day 1: 3 5-03 Day 2: 5 12-11 Day 3: 3 3-10 14. Tommy Martin Hemphill, Texas 11 21-06 $2,400.00 Day 1: 3 5-07 Day 2: 5 7-12 Day 3: 3 8-03 15. David Truax Beaumont, Texas 12 21-01 $2,300.00 Day 1: 4 6-06 Day 2: 3 5-11 Day 3: 5 9-00 16. Mark Sabbides Pineville, La. 13 20-13 $2,200.00 Day 1: 5 7-14 Day 2: 3 5-01 Day 3: 5 7-14 17. David Curtis Trinity, Texas 10 20-05 $2,200.00 Day 1: 4 10-09 Day 2: 3 5-03 Day 3: 3 4-09 18. Homer Humphreys, Jr Minden, La. 11 19-15 $3,200.00 Day 1: 4 6-04 Day 2: 4 5-09 Day 3: 3 8-02 19. David Wharton Sam Rayburn, Texas 8 19-10 $2,200.00 Day 1: 5 10-01 Day 2: 1 1-12 Day 3: 2 7-13 20. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, Ark. 13 19-06 $2,150.00 Day 1: 5 9-13 Day 2: 3 3-09 Day 3: 5 6-00 20. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, Okla. 15 19-06 $2,150.00 Day 1: 5 6-15 Day 2: 5 7-06 Day 3: 5 5-01 22. Jason Pittman Covington, La. 12 19-05 $2,100.00 Day 1: 3 4-12 Day 2: 5 6-09 Day 3: 4 8-00 22. Bert Thompson Benton, La. 12 19-05 $2,100.00 Day 1: 4 4-15 Day 2: 4 8-03 Day 3: 4 6-03 24. Randy Dearman Onalaska, Texas 12 19-04 $2,100.00 Day 1: 3 4-01 Day 2: 5 9-15 Day 3: 4 5-04 25. David Gregg Palestine, Texas 9 19-03 $2,100.00 Day 1: 4 13-01 Day 2: 3 3-03 Day 3: 2 2-15 26. Kevin Price Westerville, Ohio 10 18-14 $1,700.00 Day 1: 5 7-04 Day 2: 2 5-11 Day 3: 3 5-15 27. Larry Seger Reeds Spring, Mo. 12 18-08 $1,700.00 Day 1: 5 9-00 Day 2: 3 4-10 Day 3: 4 4-14 28. Shannon Denson Brandon, Miss. 11 18-03 $1,700.00 Day 1: 5 8-03 Day 2: 3 4-02 Day 3: 3 5-14 29. Chad Brauer Osage Beach, Mo. 13 18-00 $1,700.00 Day 1: 5 8-01 Day 2: 5 6-02 Day 3: 3 3-13 30. Jim Carnell Muskogee, Okla. 13 17-15 $1,700.00 Day 1: 4 6-14 Day 2: 5 6-03 Day 3: 4 4-14 31. Scott Rook Little Rock, Ark. 12 17-13 $1,500.00 Day 1: 2 3-06 Day 2: 5 8-02 Day 3: 5 6-05 32. Harold Allen Shelbyville, Texas 11 17-04 $1,500.00 Day 1: 4 6-09 Day 2: 5 6-03 Day 3: 2 4-08 32. Jerry Dolezal Bullard, Texas 10 17-04 $1,500.00 Day 1: 3 7-10 Day 2: 5 6-12 Day 3: 2 2-14 34. Cliff Crowder Pottsville, Ark. 10 17-03 $1,500.00 Day 1: 5 9-02 Day 2: 3 3-14 Day 3: 2 4-03 35. Lucy Mize Ben Lomond, Ark. 11 16-14 $1,500.00 Day 1: 5 7-11 Day 2: 4 7-13 Day 3: 2 1-06 36. Robert O'Neal Willis, Texas 9 16-11 $1,300.00 Day 1: 2 3-13 Day 2: 5 9-15 Day 3: 2 2-15 37. Ron Cherkas Des Moines, Iowa 13 15-12 $1,300.00 Day 1: 5 6-15 Day 2: 4 4-11 Day 3: 4 4-02 38. Bill Berry Terre Haute, Ind. 11 15-09 $1,300.00 Day 1: 5 9-00 Day 2: 5 5-12 Day 3: 1 0-13 38. Nelson Scherrer Festus, Mo. 11 15-09 $1,300.00 Day 1: 2 2-05 Day 2: 5 8-12 Day 3: 4 4-08 40. Bud Pruitt Spring, Texas 9 15-00 $1,300.00 Day 1: 5 9-12 Day 2: 2 2-13 Day 3: 2 2-07 41. Jeff Reynolds Platter, Okla. 10 14-13 $1,200.00 Day 1: 4 6-13 Day 2: 4 5-05 Day 3: 2 2-11 42. Stanley Tucker Festus, Mo. 8 13-09 $1,200.00 Day 1: 5 8-03 Day 2: 2 3-08 Day 3: 1 1-14 43. John Sowins Fayette, Ala. 8 13-07 $1,200.00 Day 1: 3 3-13 Day 2: 3 7-07 Day 3: 2 2-03 44. Brooks Rogers Quitman, Texas 11 13-03 $1,200.00 Day 1: 5 5-13 Day 2: 5 6-10 Day 3: 1 0-12 45. Kerry Kruep Paola, Kan. 7 13-02 $1,200.00 Day 1: 3 4-03 Day 2: 4 8-15 Day 3: 0 0-00 46. Pete Ponds Madison, Miss. 7 12-07 $1,100.00 Day 1: 4 8-12 Day 2: 3 3-11 Day 3: 0 0-00 47. Steven Powell Cabot, Ark. 7 11-12 $1,100.00 Day 1: 5 8-01 Day 2: 2 3-11 Day 3: 0 0-00 48. Ted Marodis Biloxi, Miss. 6 11-11 $1,100.00 Day 1: 4 9-04 Day 2: 2 2-07 Day 3: 0 0-00 49. Darrell Hunter Jackson, Miss. 6 11-06 $1,100.00 Day 1: 4 8-10 Day 2: 2 2-12 Day 3: 0 0-00 50. Scott Suggs Alexander, Ark. 6 11-01 $1,100.00 Day 1: 2 5-01 Day 2: 4 6-00 Day 3: 0 0-00 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Big Bass Day 1 Edwin Evers Mannsville, Okla. 5-12 $1,000.00 2 Rusty Nelson Ft Worth, Texas 6-06 $1,000.00 3 Homer Humphreys, Jr Minden, La. 5-13 $1,000.00 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Totals Day #Limits #Fish Weight 1 37 495 842-01 2 29 456 717-12 3 12 143 244-15 ---------------------------------- 78 1094 1804-12 2003 CITGO Bassmaster Central Open presented by Busch Beer 08/21-08/23 Tennessee-Tombigbee, Columbus Miss. (NON-BOATER) Standings Day 3 Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$ 1. Scott Darragh Dallas, Texas 10 17-07 $24,000.00 Day 1: 5 8-10 Day 2: 4 7-05 Day 3: 1 1-08 2. Dinnon Butler Jonesboro, La. 8 17-02 $12,400.00 Day 1: 4 11-06 Day 2: 4 5-12 Day 3: 0 0-00 3. Bret Myers Keller, Texas 10 16-13 $4,500.00 Day 1: 3 5-09 Day 2: 2 2-14 Day 3: 5 8-06 4. Dennis A Arendt Jackson, Tenn. 7 16-12 $4,000.00 Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 1 1-09 Day 3: 1 2-05 5. Cliff Mascarenas Columbus, Miss. 11 15-04 $3,200.00 Day 1: 2 2-03 Day 2: 4 4-04 Day 3: 5 8-13 6. Jeff Woods St. Louis, Mo. 9 14-02 $2,500.00 Day 1: 5 6-12 Day 2: 2 4-03 Day 3: 2 3-03 7. Bill Adkins Keithville, La. 9 13-13 $2,000.00 Day 1: 4 7-11 Day 2: 4 5-00 Day 3: 1 1-02 8. Matt Ferguson Pontotoc, Miss. 9 13-04 $1,800.00 Day 1: 4 7-05 Day 2: 1 1-03 Day 3: 4 4-12 9. Brad Bennett Strasburg, Colo. 8 13-03 $1,500.00 Day 1: 3 5-09 Day 2: 3 5-14 Day 3: 2 1-12 10. Dennis Crawford Harrisonburg, La. 9 12-13 $1,400.00 Day 1: 3 3-06 Day 2: 5 7-12 Day 3: 1 1-11 11. Ralph A Steinecke Davenport, Iowa 10 12-07 $1,300.00 Day 1: 5 7-13 Day 2: 2 2-02 Day 3: 3 2-08 12. Derek Remitz North Branch, Minn. 5 12-04 $1,150.00 Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 5 12-04 Day 3: 0 0-00 12. Marvin Wells Claremore, Okla. 7 12-04 $1,550.00 Day 1: 2 1-15 Day 2: 2 4-09 Day 3: 3 5-12 14. Frank McClendon Robbins, Ill. 7 12-01 $1,000.00 Day 1: 3 3-07 Day 2: 3 6-12 Day 3: 1 1-14 15. Bill Guillory Jasper, Texas 9 11-04 $900.00 Day 1: 4 4-10 Day 2: 3 2-11 Day 3: 2 3-15 16. Ronnie Bell Ethelsville, Ala. 6 10-14 $800.00 Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 5 8-10 Day 3: 1 2-04 17. Lincoln Stockton Cypress, Texas 7 10-12 $800.00 Day 1: 2 2-15 Day 2: 2 3-10 Day 3: 3 4-03 18. Paul Ferguson Arp, Texas 8 10-02 $800.00 Day 1: 5 6-01 Day 2: 2 2-04 Day 3: 1 1-13 18. Richard D Stevens Galatia, Ill. 5 10-02 $1,200.00 Day 1: 2 2-03 Day 2: 1 6-01 Day 3: 2 1-14 20. Arthur F White Jr West Point, Miss. 7 10-01 $800.00 Day 1: 3 5-00 Day 2: 1 2-07 Day 3: 3 2-10 21. David Netherland Waco, Texas 7 10-00 $700.00 Day 1: 2 2-05 Day 2: 2 4-01 Day 3: 3 3-10 21. Mike Wisenbaker Jourdanton, Texas 7 10-00 $700.00 Day 1: 4 6-00 Day 2: 1 2-02 Day 3: 2 1-14 23. Jerome O'Bryant Carrollton, Ala. 6 9-15 $700.00 Day 1: 3 5-12 Day 2: 2 2-11 Day 3: 1 1-08 24. Brian Keith Tipler Cordova, Tenn. 7 9-13 $700.00 Day 1: 3 6-03 Day 2: 2 1-09 Day 3: 2 2-01 25. Terry D Owens Aliceville, Ala. 7 9-08 $700.00 Day 1: 1 1-02 Day 2: 4 6-04 Day 3: 2 2-02 26. Roger Coleman Carrollton, Texas 6 9-06 $600.00 Day 1: 3 4-03 Day 2: 2 3-08 Day 3: 1 1-11 27. Vince Parello Irving, Texas 5 9-04 $600.00 Day 1: 1 5-01 Day 2: 2 1-11 Day 3: 2 2-08 28. Frank Divis, Sr Fayetteville, Ark. 7 9-02 $600.00 Day 1: 2 3-05 Day 2: 5 5-13 Day 3: 0 0-00 29. Billy G Yelverton Baton Rouge, La. 5 8-12 $600.00 Day 1: 2 4-08 Day 2: 3 4-04 Day 3: 0 0-00 30. Darin LeBlanc Metairie, La. 6 8-11 $600.00 Day 1: 2 2-07 Day 2: 3 4-10 Day 3: 1 1-10 31. Curt Culbertson Ft. Worth, Texas 6 8-10 $550.00 Day 1: 2 3-10 Day 2: 2 2-02 Day 3: 2 2-14 32. Tyrus Hester Russellville, Ala. 6 8-06 $550.00 Day 1: 2 4-00 Day 2: 1 1-10 Day 3: 3 2-12 33. Jeary Wheeler Batesville, Ark. 6 8-03 $550.00 Day 1: 1 1-15 Day 2: 3 4-07 Day 3: 2 1-13 34. Chris Caldwell Amory, Miss. 5 8-01 $550.00 Day 1: 4 6-05 Day 2: 1 1-12 Day 3: 0 0-00 34. Robert Smith Huntington, Texas 5 8-01 $550.00 Day 1: 5 8-01 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 0 0-00 36. Wayne Parish Amory, Miss. 4 7-13 $500.00 Day 1: 1 1-11 Day 2: 1 3-15 Day 3: 2 2-03 37. Donnie Courtney Baton Rouge, La. 5 7-11 $500.00 Day 1: 2 3-12 Day 2: 3 3-15 Day 3: 0 0-00 38. Chad McCool Millport, Ala. 5 7-07 $500.00 Day 1: 1 2-06 Day 2: 3 3-15 Day 3: 1 1-02 39. Jeff Snyder Royse City, Texas 6 7-05 $500.00 Day 1: 4 5-04 Day 2: 1 0-15 Day 3: 1 1-02 39. Kelly Stevens Alexandria, La. 4 7-05 $500.00 Day 1: 2 5-07 Day 2: 1 1-00 Day 3: 1 0-14 41. Howard Jefferson Grandview, Mo. 5 7-04 $450.00 Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 4 5-12 Day 3: 1 1-08 42. Steve Corbin Concroe, Texas 5 7-02 $450.00 Day 1: 2 2-15 Day 2: 2 3-04 Day 3: 1 0-15 44. Chad Hartzog Bush, La. 5 6-10 $450.00 Day 1: 1 2-07 Day 2: 4 4-03 Day 3: 0 0-00 45. Dan Handy Jacksonville, Ark. 4 6-09 $450.00 Day 1: 2 3-06 Day 2: 2 3-03 Day 3: 0 0-00 46. Doss Briggs Muskogee, Okla. 5 6-07 $400.00 Day 1: 3 4-02 Day 2: 2 2-05 Day 3: 0 0-00 48. Jim Dillard West Monroe, La. 3 6-01 $400.00 Day 1: 1 1-04 Day 2: 2 4-13 Day 3: 0 0-00 49. Michael Arnold Waco, Texas 3 5-15 $400.00 Day 1: 1 1-09 Day 2: 2 4-06 Day 3: 0 0-00 49. Allen Hilner Many, La. 5 5-15 $400.00 Day 1: 2 2-07 Day 2: 3 3-08 Day 3: 0 0-00 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Big Bass Day 1 Dinnon Butler Jonesboro, La. 6-02 $400.00 2 Richard D Stevens Galatia, Ill. 6-01 $400.00 3 Marvin Wells Claremore, Okla. 3-12 $400.00 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Totals Day #Limits #Fish Weight 1 6 252 406-12 2 4 241 352-07 3 2 69 92-08 ---------------------------------- 12 562 851-11