GROVE, Okla. - Erasing a margin of more than 8 pounds, home state favorite Jeff Kriet of Ardmore, Okla., boated the biggest limit of the tournament Saturday with 24 pounds, 11 ounces, and took over the lead from BASS' all-time top money winner Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich., at the Sooner Run bass fishing tournament.
Kriet has totaled 59 pounds, 13 ounces, over three days of competition and capitalized on a cloudy, rainy day that caused many of the other anglers to struggle. He leads VanDam by a mere 7 ounces
. An accomplished pro, Kriet has appeared in four Bassmaster Classics and has amassed more than $440,000 in earnings in his BASS career. His lone BASS victory came nearly 10 years ago in Oklahoma on Lake Texoma, in a Bassmaster Invitational event, a qualifying circuit. Kriet is focused on victory once again.
"I have struggled closing these tournaments out in the past," the 38-year-old said. "But I was fairly conservative with my big-fish spots today and I feel that I can really catch them again tomorrow."
Primarily working jigs and Carolina rigs to rocky points, Kriet built a limit of 4- and 5-pounders Saturday. Duplicating the effort will be tough, but, for the final day of competition, Kriet has identified six spots that he believes hold bigger fish.
With a good showing at the Sooner Run, Kriet also gains valuable points in the Bassmaster Angler of the Year race. Heading into the Grand Lake event, he was in sixth place, and he now believes that he can make a run at the award.
"Stranger things have happened," Kriet said. "I want to win tournaments, but most of all I want to have a shot at the Angler of the Year award. I just want a chance at it heading into the last event."
VanDam, one of the most accomplished anglers in the sport, slipped Saturday with 16 pounds, 3 ounces. Employing his typical "run-and-gun" approach, the 11-time BASS winner was unable to entice the bigger bites he had on the first two days of competition. However, he believes he has identified a solid pattern for the final day regardless of weather, and he'll look to move even faster, rotating to spots multiple times throughout the day.
"With the cloudy and rainy weather during the summertime, typically the fish are more aggressive," the two-time Bassmaster Classic champion said. "But I couldn't get the bigger ones to bite. It can get interesting in a hurry out there but I never could get the timing down to produce. I like things a lot better when it's close."
Regardless of the tournament outcome, VanDam will lead the Angler of the Year standings, as previous leader Skeet Reese failed to qualify for the top-50 cut.
In third Saturday was rookie Marty Robinson of Landrum, S.C., who fell from second with a three-day total of 58 pounds, 1 ounce. Finishing fourth was Kevin Short of Mayflower, Ark., who jumped from 13th with 55 pounds, 14 ounces. In fifth was Davy Hite of Prosperity, S.C., who moved up one spot from sixth with 53 pounds, 3 ounces.
Also finishing in the top 12 who qualified for Sunday were 2007 Bassmaster Classic champion Boyd Duckett in seventh and 2006 Sooner Run champion Mike McClelland in 11th.
The co-angler competition ended Saturday with Chad Kallina of Texas winning a Triton/Mercury boat package valued at $50,000. Kallina, who scored his second victory as a co-angler, posted a three-day weight of 38 pounds, 3 ounce. Trailing Kallina were Texan David Stewart with 37 pounds, 11 ounces, and Kansan Robert Heath with 36 pounds, 14 ounces.
2007 The Sooner Run 6/21-6/24
Grand Lake, Grove OK.
(PROFESSIONAL) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 15 59-13 305 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 19-00 Day 2: 5 16-02 Day 3: 5 24-11
2. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 15 59-06 305 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 21-11 Day 2: 5 21-08 Day 3: 5 16-03
3. Marty Robinson Landrum, SC 15 58-01 290
Day 1: 5 20-00 Day 2: 5 20-05 Day 3: 5 17-12
4. Kevin Short Mayflower, AR 15 55-14 285 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-10 Day 2: 5 16-12 Day 3: 5 21-08
5. Davy Hite Ninety Six, SC 15 53-03 280 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-07 Day 2: 5 19-01 Day 3: 5 16-11
6. Timmy Horton Muscle Shoals, AL 15 52-15 276
Day 1: 5 18-06 Day 2: 5 16-07 Day 3: 5 18-02
7. Boyd Duckett Demopolis, AL 15 52-04 272
Day 1: 5 17-07 Day 2: 5 19-06 Day 3: 5 15-07
8. Edwin Evers Talala, OK 15 51-07 268
Day 1: 5 18-04 Day 2: 5 19-09 Day 3: 5 13-10
9. Matt Reed Madisonville, TX 15 50-12 264
Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 5 19-12 Day 3: 5 15-08
10. Kelly Jordon Mineola, TX 15 50-01 260 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-11 Day 2: 5 22-05 Day 3: 5 16-01
11. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, AR 15 49-15 257
Day 1: 5 17-15 Day 2: 5 18-11 Day 3: 5 13-05
12. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, FL 15 49-07 254
Day 1: 5 18-09 Day 2: 5 14-13 Day 3: 5 16-01
13. Bill Lowen North Bend, OH 15 48-07 251 $10,800.00
Day 1: 5 14-15 Day 2: 5 18-06 Day 3: 5 15-02
14. Scott Rook Little Rock, AR 15 47-13 248 $10,700.00
Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 5 20-12 Day 3: 5 12-12
15. Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 15 47-10 245 $11,600.00
Day 1: 5 18-08 Day 2: 5 14-13 Day 3: 5 14-05
16. Todd Faircloth Jasper, TX 15 47-04 243 $10,500.00
Day 1: 5 14-12 Day 2: 5 19-11 Day 3: 5 12-13
17. Ben Matsubu Hemphill, TX 15 46-15 241 $10,500.00
Day 1: 5 19-08 Day 2: 5 14-03 Day 3: 5 13-04
18. Michael Iaconelli Runnemede, NJ 15 46-10 239 $10,500.00
Day 1: 5 19-08 Day 2: 5 13-00 Day 3: 5 14-02
19. Alton Jones Waco, TX 15 46-09 237 $10,500.00
Day 1: 5 15-00 Day 2: 5 18-01 Day 3: 5 13-08
20. Derek Remitz Hemphill, TX 15 46-05 235 $10,500.00
Day 1: 5 19-01 Day 2: 5 15-06 Day 3: 5 11-14
21. Kenyon Hill Norman, OK 15 46-04 233 $10,250.00
Day 1: 5 15-05 Day 2: 5 18-06 Day 3: 5 12-09
22. Ishama Monroe Hughson, CA 15 46-01 231 $10,250.00
Day 1: 5 14-14 Day 2: 5 15-15 Day 3: 5 15-04
23. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, CA 15 46-00 229 $10,250.00
Day 1: 5 16-09 Day 2: 5 13-10 Day 3: 5 15-13
24. Peter E Thliveros Jacksonville , FL 15 45-12 227 $10,250.00
Day 1: 5 16-04 Day 2: 5 17-03 Day 3: 5 12-05
25. Chris Lane Winter Haven, FL 15 45-09 225 $10,250.00
Day 1: 5 14-02 Day 2: 5 15-02 Day 3: 5 16-05
26. Byron Velvick Del Rio, TX 15 44-09 223 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-04 Day 2: 5 15-02 Day 3: 5 15-03
27. Jeremy Starks Charleston, WV 15 44-08 221 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-11 Day 2: 5 12-06 Day 3: 5 16-07
28. James Niggemeyer Van, TX 15 44-06 219 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 5 14-08 Day 3: 5 16-04
29. Morizo Shimizu Murrieta, CA 15 44-03 217 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 5 13-11 Day 3: 5 15-04
30. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, OK 15 44-00 215 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 5 13-15 Day 3: 5 15-08
31. Jason Williamson Aiken, SC 15 43-14 213 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 18-02 Day 3: 5 13-05
32. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA 15 43-03 211 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-13 Day 2: 5 13-10 Day 3: 5 15-12
33. Denny Brauer Camdenton, MO 15 43-02 209 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-06 Day 2: 5 14-12 Day 3: 5 12-00
34. Bradley Stringer Huntington, TX 15 42-14 207 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-05 Day 2: 5 18-04 Day 3: 5 10-05
35. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, KS 15 42-13 205 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-00 Day 2: 5 15-12 Day 3: 5 14-01
36. Britt Myers Lake Wylie, NC 15 42-07 203 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-15 Day 2: 5 15-03 Day 3: 5 13-05
37. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, AL 15 42-06 201 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 5 15-10 Day 3: 5 12-03
38. Mark Tyler Vian, OK 14 41-15 199 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-08 Day 2: 4 13-00 Day 3: 5 12-07
39. Darrin Schwenkbeck Varysburg, MD 15 41-13 196 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 16-14 Day 3: 5 12-08
39. Jimmy Mason Rogersville, AL 15 41-13 196 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-10 Day 2: 5 13-07 Day 3: 5 13-12
41. Bernie Schultz Gainesville, FL 15 41-11 193 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 14-08 Day 2: 5 13-11 Day 3: 5 13-08
42. Scott Campbell Springfield, MO 15 40-13 191 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-13 Day 2: 5 09-14 Day 3: 5 13-02
43. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, AR 15 40-11 189 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-15 Day 2: 5 13-03 Day 3: 5 10-09
44. Glenn Delong Bellville, OH 13 39-11 187 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-08 Day 2: 4 14-00 Day 3: 4 10-03
45. Dave Smith Del City, OK 15 39-08 185 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-10 Day 2: 5 16-04 Day 3: 5 09-10
46. John Crews Salem, VA 15 39-07 183 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 5 12-03 Day 3: 5 12-00
47. Mark Tucker Saint Louis, MO 15 39-01 181 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-04 Day 2: 5 12-01 Day 3: 5 10-12
48. Frank Scalish Cleveland Heights, OH 14 39-00 179 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 13-11 Day 2: 5 16-10 Day 3: 4 08-11
49. Russ Lane Prattville, AL 14 34-09 177 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 12-14 Day 2: 5 14-05 Day 3: 4 07-06
50. Jim Murray Arabi, GA 12 33-02 175 $10,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-13 Day 2: 5 12-02 Day 3: 2 04-03
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Big Bass
Day
1 Aaron Martens Leeds, AL 05-14 $1,000.00
2 Davy Hite Ninety Six, SC 06-04 $1,000.00
3 Kevin Short Mayflower, AR 06-02 $1,000.00
Day
1 Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI 21-11 $1,000.00
2 Kelly Jordon Mineola, TX 22-05 $1,000.00
3 Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK 24-11 $1,000.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 102 528 1480-02
2 97 520 1449-13
3 46 244 693-03
----------------------------------
245 1292 3623-02
2007 The Sooner Run 6/21-6/24
Grand Lake, Grove OK.
(NON_BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Chad Kallina San Marcos, TX 15 38-03 0 $50,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-00 Day 2: 5 17-05 Day 3: 5 10-14
2. David Stewart Cedar Park, TX 15 37-11 0 $25,000.00
Day 1: 5 15-01 Day 2: 5 12-10 Day 3: 5 10-00
3. Robert Heath Wellsville, KS 15 36-14 0 $5,000.00
Day 1: 5 11-06 Day 2: 5 13-04 Day 3: 5 12-04
4. Scott Ventimiglia Kansas City, MO 15 36-01 0 $3,500.00
Day 1: 5 11-07 Day 2: 5 11-12 Day 3: 5 12-14
5. Art Hines Joplin, MO 15 34-05 0 $2,750.00
Day 1: 5 09-06 Day 2: 5 12-08 Day 3: 5 12-07
6. Michael Vintges Tyler, TX 14 34-00 0 $2,500.00
Day 1: 5 17-11 Day 2: 5 07-08 Day 3: 4 08-13
7. Kelly Banks Ramona, OK 12 33-06 0 $2,250.00
Day 1: 5 15-13 Day 2: 5 13-04 Day 3: 2 04-05
8. David Herman Mcalester, OK 14 32-02 0 $2,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-07 Day 2: 4 07-02 Day 3: 5 08-09
9. Clayton Coppin Muskogee, OK 13 31-10 0 $1,750.00
Day 1: 5 12-07 Day 2: 5 11-03 Day 3: 3 08-00
10. Les Williams Mcalester, OK 13 30-15 0 $1,500.00
Day 1: 5 09-12 Day 2: 3 06-15 Day 3: 5 14-04
11. Mike Jones Noel, MO 15 30-07 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 09-14 Day 2: 5 11-08 Day 3: 5 09-01
11. Matthew Leavell Vicksburg, MS 14 30-07 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-15 Day 2: 5 12-04 Day 3: 4 07-04
11. Raymond Renfroe Delaware, OK 14 30-07 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 4 08-07 Day 2: 5 10-04 Day 3: 5 11-12
14. Tommy Swindle Cleveland, AL 15 29-15 0 $750.00
Day 1: 5 09-05 Day 2: 5 08-12 Day 3: 5 11-14
15. Jerry Mcvey Stewartsville, MO 9 29-14 0 $1,750.00
Day 1: 0 00-00 Day 2: 4 15-06 Day 3: 5 14-08
16. Bryan Talmadge Pell City, AL 11 29-10 0 $750.00
Day 1: 5 14-12 Day 2: 5 12-01 Day 3: 1 02-13
17. Rodney McClelland Springdale, AR 12 29-05 0 $750.00
Day 1: 5 10-07 Day 2: 5 12-03 Day 3: 2 06-11
18. Brian Hanes Bernice, OK 12 28-08 0 $750.00
Day 1: 3 06-03 Day 2: 4 08-02 Day 3: 5 14-03
18. Harry Parten Columbiana, AL 12 28-08 0 $750.00
Day 1: 5 09-13 Day 2: 2 04-12 Day 3: 5 13-15
20. David Hale Grove, OK 11 28-01 0 $750.00
Day 1: 4 13-10 Day 2: 3 06-02 Day 3: 4 08-05
21. Jason Fox Bixby, OK 12 27-12 0 $750.00
Day 1: 3 06-08 Day 2: 4 10-05 Day 3: 5 10-15
22. Frank Mealer Irondale, AL 14 27-08 0 $750.00
Day 1: 4 06-04 Day 2: 5 08-12 Day 3: 5 12-08
23. Jimmy Sparks Tuscumbia, AL 12 27-00 0 $750.00
Day 1: 5 09-12 Day 2: 4 09-01 Day 3: 3 08-03
24. Gary Miller Kearney, MO 12 26-05 0 $750.00
Day 1: 3 07-02 Day 2: 5 11-07 Day 3: 4 07-12
25. Brian Brandon Elgin, TX 11 25-14 0 $750.00
Day 1: 2 05-06 Day 2: 4 09-10 Day 3: 5 10-14
26. Gil Phillips Alba, TX 12 25-09 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 08-13 Day 2: 3 06-06 Day 3: 4 10-06
27. Derrick Wright Chanute, KS 13 25-06 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 09-06 Day 2: 4 09-02 Day 3: 4 06-14
27. Darryl Hanks Pineville, MO 12 25-06 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 09-06 Day 2: 3 05-10 Day 3: 4 10-06
29. Jacob McConnell Bella Vista, AR 11 25-02 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 10-07 Day 2: 4 10-10 Day 3: 2 04-01
30. Ron Chapman Lake Quivira , KS 11 24-03 0 $500.00
Day 1: 4 08-13 Day 2: 4 08-05 Day 3: 3 07-01
31. Ron Hummingbird Broken Arrow, OK 11 24-01 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 09-08 Day 2: 2 04-02 Day 3: 4 10-07
31. Dave Dickherber Lake Saint Louis, MO 11 24-01 0 $500.00
Day 1: 4 10-00 Day 2: 3 04-12 Day 3: 4 09-05
33. Shannon Mcclelland Bella Vista, AR 10 22-15 0 $500.00
Day 1: 4 09-09 Day 2: 5 11-11 Day 3: 1 01-11
34. Benjamin Jackson Broken Arrow, OK 9 22-12 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 11-03 Day 2: 2 06-06 Day 3: 2 05-03
35. Mike Williams Delhi, LA 10 22-10 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 10-13 Day 2: 3 07-03 Day 3: 2 04-10
36. Michael Bass Austin, TX 11 22-09 0 $500.00
Day 1: 4 06-05 Day 2: 5 12-00 Day 3: 2 04-04
37. Mike Hitt Anderson, MO 10 22-00 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 10-01 Day 2: 3 05-14 Day 3: 2 06-01
38. Howard Stephens Columbia, SC 12 21-10 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 07-04 Day 2: 5 10-06 Day 3: 2 04-00
39. Harry Potts Ozark, AL 10 21-08 0 $500.00
Day 1: 3 04-01 Day 2: 4 12-01 Day 3: 3 05-06
40. Travis Cockburn Marion, IL 11 21-02 0 $500.00
Day 1: 4 07-01 Day 2: 5 09-07 Day 3: 2 04-10
41. Ryan Ledbetter Sand Springs, OK 9 21-00 0 $500.00
Day 1: 4 07-15 Day 2: 3 09-04 Day 3: 2 03-13
41. Kelly Dougherty Broken Arrow, OK 8 21-00 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 15-04 Day 2: 1 01-13 Day 3: 2 03-15
43. Larry Triplett Parker, CO 8 20-00 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 14-07 Day 2: 3 05-09 Day 3: 0 00-00
44. Carlton Simmons Enid, OK 8 19-09 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 13-01 Day 2: 1 03-04 Day 3: 2 03-04
45. Ronnie Manrose Ozark, MO 8 18-07 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 2 05-11 Day 3: 1 02-00
46. James Hill Ozark, AL 9 18-06 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 08-05 Day 2: 2 05-12 Day 3: 2 04-05
47. Eulon Lee Jr. Montgomery, AL 7 17-13 0 $1,000.00
Day 1: 1 05-06 Day 2: 5 10-12 Day 3: 1 01-11
48. Kenny O'Malley Tulsa, OK 8 17-09 0 $500.00
Day 1: 1 01-13 Day 2: 5 12-14 Day 3: 2 02-14
49. Robert Reedy Rose Bud, AR 8 17-06 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 11-04 Day 2: 2 04-10 Day 3: 1 01-08
50. Jake Tudor Broken Arrow, OK 8 15-07 0 $500.00
Day 1: 5 08-11 Day 2: 3 06-12 Day 3: 0 00-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Big Bass
Day
1 Eulon Lee Jr. Montgomery, AL 05-06 $500.00
2 Jerry Mcvey Stewartsville, MO 06-09 $500.00
3 Jerry Mcvey Stewartsville, MO 06-11 $500.00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 35 336 721-15
2 24 311 698-04
3 16 161 370-11
----------------------------------
75 808 1790-14