GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. - Tammy Richardson of Amity, Ark., became a three-time winner and turned around her 2007 season when she prevailed Saturday at the Women's Bassmaster Tour bass fishing tournament at Lake Guntersville.
Her tournament total of 50 pounds, 0 ounces gave her a wide margin of victory over Judy Wong of Many, La., who moved up the leaderboard from 18th on Day 1 to 8th on Day 2, then finished in second with 41-11.
The first-place prize was a Triton/Mercury boat rig worth $50,000.
Richardson's two previous wins were last season. But since her most recent win - Bull Shoals Lake in August 2006 - her fishing game's been suffering: eighth in a field of 12 at the WBT 2006 Championship in February; 17th at this season's WBT stop No. 1, Lake Amistad in Texas; and 20th at stop No. 2, Lake Dardanelle in her home state of Arkansas.
"Sometimes when you do badly, it lights the fire in you to hustle," said the 35-year-old winner. "I didn't start out this year as I wanted to, so I needed this."
Despite boat trouble that cost her three hours of fishing on the first day of competition, Richardson started strong at Guntersville. She ended the first day, Thursday, in third place with 16-0. Friday she inched up into second place, again with a catch of 16-0. Her final-day bag - five fish that weighed 18-0 - clinched the win.
Richardson said she keyed in on Lake Guntersville's humps with a Carolina rig that included a 10-inch green-pumpkin Zoom worm and 3/4-ounce Tru-Tungsten weight.
The win boosted her standing in the Toyota WBT Angler of the Year race from 12th to fourth place, behind Sheri Glasgow of Muskogee, Okla., who stayed at the top; Pam Martin-Wells of Bainbridge, Ga., who retained the second-place spot; and Juanita Robinson of Highlands, Texas, who moved to up one notch into third.
"Sheri's leading, and she's so consistent, so getting ahead in points is tough," said Richardson, who lost the 2006 Angler of the Year title by 3 ounces to Dianna Clark of Bumpus Mills, Tenn.
Second-place holder Wong, who moved up to tie for sixth in the points standings with Clark, scored her best WBT finish to date.
"I think I'm more focused now, more willing to make changes and trust my intuition," said Wong, a 55-year-old who guides on Toledo Bend when she's not competing.
She said that on Lake Guntersville, her go-to lure was a cinnamon, purple-flake Yamamoto lizard on a Carolina rig she worked in shallow grass next to spawning beds. She also used a Senko plastic.
In the co-angler division, the winner was Karol Whitehurst of Winnsboro, Texas, with 37 pounds, 9 ounces. Whitehurst, a 50-year-old X-ray technician, took home a $1,000 check and a Triton/Mercury rig valued at $25,000. The Saturday win was her best showing to date in a BASS event.
Whitehurst said she was drop-shotting the same bait all three days: a Zoom finesse worm in a watermelon, purple-flake finish.
"I tried throwing other baits a few times, but I just didn't have confidence in them, so went back to the drop-shot rig and the finesse worm," said Whitehurst, who moved up into the winner's spot after holding fifth place for two days.
The co-angler who took second was Virginia Buckner of Scottsboro, Ala., whose total weight was 30-4. Behind her was Laura Elkins of Amarillo, Texas, with 29-13; Sharon Withers of Sam Rayburn, Texas, with 27-6; and Elizabeth Sanders of Brandon, Miss., with 25-12.
2007 Women's Bassmaster Tour (BOATER) Standings Day 3 Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$ 1. Tammy Richardson Amity, Ark. 15 50-00 305 $50,000.00 Day 1: 5 16-00 Day 2: 5 16-00 Day 3: 5 18-00 2. Judy Wong Many, La. 14 41-11 295 $6,200.00 Day 1: 4 9-06 Day 2: 5 14-01 Day 3: 5 18-04 3. Audrey McQueen Canon City, Colo. 11 40-01 295 $3,680.00 Day 1: 4 15-05 Day 2: 5 17-07 Day 3: 2 7-05 4. Cindy Hill Smyrna, Tenn. 14 39-12 290 $2,180.00 Day 1: 5 17-04 Day 2: 5 12-07 Day 3: 4 10-01 5. Sheri Glasgow Muskogee, Okla. 13 39-03 280 $1,930.00 Day 1: 5 13-15 Day 2: 4 12-15 Day 3: 4 12-05 6. Pam Martin-Wells Bainbridge, Ga. 12 35-10 276 $1,700.00 Day 1: 3 8-12 Day 2: 5 15-06 Day 3: 4 11-08 7. Rhonda Pope Waco, Ga. 11 34-11 270 $1,575.00 Day 1: 2 6-15 Day 2: 4 10-11 Day 3: 5 17-01 7. Kathy Womack Trussville, Ala. 11 34-11 270 $1,575.00 Day 1: 4 12-08 Day 2: 4 13-02 Day 3: 3 9-01 9. Lucy Mize Ben Lomond, Ark. 13 32-12 264 $1,500.00 Day 1: 3 7-09 Day 2: 5 14-04 Day 3: 5 10-15 10. Sandi Karnes Livingston, Texas 10 31-11 260 $1,450.00 Day 1: 5 15-05 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 5 16-06 11. Dianna Clark Bumpus Mills, Tenn. 9 30-00 257 $1,400.00 Day 1: 5 17-01 Day 2: 3 7-07 Day 3: 1 5-08 12. Connie Buckner Scottsboro, Ala. 10 28-03 254 $1,350.00 Day 1: 4 12-04 Day 2: 4 9-01 Day 3: 2 6-14 13. Marcia Rubin Chagrin Falls, Ohio 12 27-14 251 $1,300.00 Day 1: 3 5-12 Day 2: 4 11-05 Day 3: 5 10-13 14. Jamie Patrick Dawsonville, Ga. 11 27-00 248 $1,200.00 Day 1: 4 10-01 Day 2: 4 10-09 Day 3: 3 6-06 15. Kay Pennington Pineville, La. 12 26-05 245 $1,150.00 Day 1: 3 7-04 Day 2: 5 10-00 Day 3: 4 9-01 16. Angie Douthit Clewiston, Fla. 9 26-02 243 $1,100.00 Day 1: 3 7-15 Day 2: 2 7-06 Day 3: 4 10-13 17. Jo Dee Bucki Bessemer, Ala. 10 24-07 241 $1,050.00 Day 1: 4 9-10 Day 2: 3 7-12 Day 3: 3 7-01 18. Bonnie Johnson Weatherford, Texas 10 24-01 239 $1,000.00 Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 2 6-00 Day 3: 3 7-05 19. Tammie Muse North Little Rock, Ark 9 23-10 237 $1,950.00 Day 1: 2 4-05 Day 2: 5 15-03 Day 3: 2 4-02 20. Debra Hengst San Antonio, Texas 8 22-13 235 $900.00 Day 1: 3 8-07 Day 2: 4 11-06 Day 3: 1 3-00 21. Patti Campbell Waxahachie, Texas 7 22-07 233 $850.00 Day 1: 2 7-05 Day 2: 5 15-02 Day 3: 0 0-00 22. Linda Sands Cullman, Ala. 9 22-06 231 $800.00 Day 1: 4 11-07 Day 2: 4 8-10 Day 3: 1 2-05 23. Robinette Fox Hot Springs, Ark. 9 21-09 229 $750.00 Day 1: 2 5-11 Day 2: 5 11-11 Day 3: 2 4-03 24. Keri Schieber Cumming, Ga. 9 20-06 227 $700.00 Day 1: 4 9-15 Day 2: 3 5-14 Day 3: 2 4-09 25. Diane Phillips Tyler, Texas 7 19-15 225 $650.00 Day 1: 2 8-00 Day 2: 3 7-09 Day 3: 2 4-06 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Purolator Big Bass Day 1 Kali Weatherford Athens, Texas 6-10 $1,000.00 2 Tammie Muse North Little Rock, Ark. 6-05 $1,000.00 3 Judy Wong Many, La. 5-14 $1,000.00 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Totals Day #Limits #Fish Weight 1 7 178 506-05 2 11 194 522-05 3 6 77 217-04 ---------------------------------- 24 449 1245-14 2007 Women's Bassmaster Tour (NON-BOATER) Standings Day 3 Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$ 1. Karol Whitehurst Winnsboro, Texas 13 37-09 305 $26,500.00 Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 3 6-09 Day 3: 5 19-14 2. Virginia Buckner Scottsboro, Ala. 11 30-04 300 $3,200.00 Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 4 12-12 Day 3: 2 4-04 3. Laura Elkins Amarillo, Texas 11 29-13 290 $2,180.00 Day 1: 2 4-08 Day 2: 4 9-04 Day 3: 5 16-01 4. Sharon Withers Sam Rayburn, Texas 10 27-06 285 $1,680.00 Day 1: 3 8-07 Day 2: 2 4-13 Day 3: 5 14-02 5. Elizabeth Sanders Brandon, Miss. 9 25-12 285 $1,180.00 Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 3 7-14 Day 3: 1 3-05 6. Tabitha Rudd Cusseta, Ala. 8 25-00 276 $900.00 Day 1: 3 10-10 Day 2: 1 2-02 Day 3: 4 12-04 7. Bonnie Ward Snohomish, Wash. 10 23-02 272 $850.00 Day 1: 3 6-03 Day 2: 3 5-12 Day 3: 4 11-03 8. Phyllis Free Flowery Branch, Ga. 8 23-01 268 $800.00 Day 1: 1 3-07 Day 2: 5 15-04 Day 3: 2 4-06 9. Lesa Brown Harrison, Ark. 6 22-03 264 $775.00 Day 1: 2 6-13 Day 2: 3 10-11 Day 3: 1 4-11 10. Kim Stapp Ringgold, Ga. 8 20-13 260 $750.00 Day 1: 3 6-05 Day 2: 2 6-14 Day 3: 3 7-10 11. Jan Hudson Harrison, Ark. 6 19-01 257 $725.00 Day 1: 4 13-11 Day 2: 2 5-06 Day 3: 0 0-00 12. Cheryl Holloway Pollock, La. 7 17-08 254 $700.00 Day 1: 3 7-10 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 4 9-14 13. Bertha Cavakis Amity, Ark. 6 16-04 251 $675.00 Day 1: 2 4-10 Day 2: 2 5-02 Day 3: 2 6-08 14. Toni Mode Eagle Creek, Ore. 6 15-05 248 $650.00 Day 1: 2 4-01 Day 2: 4 11-04 Day 3: 0 0-00 15. Sherry Melton Monterey, Tenn. 6 14-13 244 $612.50 Day 1: 2 5-06 Day 2: 2 5-06 Day 3: 2 4-01 15. Crystal Langston Leighton, Ala. 3 14-13 244 $612.50 Day 1: 2 12-06 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 1 2-07 17. Kala Wright Pocola, Okla. 6 14-03 241 $575.00 Day 1: 2 5-04 Day 2: 4 8-15 Day 3: 0 0-00 18. Teresa Lolley Hayden, Ala. 7 14-02 239 $550.00 Day 1: 2 5-02 Day 2: 3 5-00 Day 3: 2 4-00 19. BJ Carson Inola, Okla. 6 13-11 237 $525.00 Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 4 9-05 Day 3: 2 4-06 20. Angela Mitchell Keswick, Canada 5 12-14 235 $500.00 Day 1: 1 3-01 Day 2: 3 7-02 Day 3: 1 2-11 21. Diane Smith Fayetteville, Ga. 4 12-12 233 $475.00 Day 1: 2 6-07 Day 2: 1 3-11 Day 3: 1 2-10 22. Bridget Allen Philadelphia, Pa. 5 12-05 231 $450.00 Day 1: 4 10-05 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 1 2-00 23. Brenda Reeves Arlington, Texas 4 11-07 229 $425.00 Day 1: 2 6-13 Day 2: 1 2-10 Day 3: 1 2-00 24. Dianne Kegley Norphlet, Ark. 4 10-11 227 $400.00 Day 1: 1 2-00 Day 2: 2 6-15 Day 3: 1 1-12 25. Kim Martin Clayton, Ind. 3 9-12 225 $350.00 Day 1: 1 3-03 Day 2: 2 6-09 Day 3: 0 0-00 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Purolator Big Bass Day 1 Linda Berry Madison, N.C. 6-12 $500.00 2 Kim Tucker Red Bay, Ala. 6-09 $500.00 3 Karol Whitehurst Winnsboro, Texas 6-06 $500.00 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Totals Day #Limits #Fish Weight 1 5 95 265-14 2 8 99 256-03 3 1 50 140-01 ---------------------------------- 14 244 662-02 2007 Women's Bassmaster Boater Points After Guntersville Lake ------------------------------------------- Place Name St Pts ------------------------------------------- 1 Sheri Glasgow Okla. 885 2 Pam Martin-Wells Ga. 851 3 Juanita Robinson Texas 807 4 Tammy Richardson Ark. 781 5 Audrey McQueen Colo. 764 6 Dianna Clark Tenn. 762 6 Judy Wong La. 762 8 Lucy Mize Ark. 738 9 Lynda Gessner Mo. 725 10 Cindy Hill Tenn. 718 11 Patti Campbell Texas 715 12 Debra Hengst Texas 714 13 Penny Berryman Ark. 682 14 Secret York Ky. 679 15 Robinette Fox Ark. 674 16 Christie Thomas Ala. 660 17 Tammie Muse Ark. 655 18 Mary Hencken N.C. 650 19 Jamie Patrick Ga. 638 20 Kathy Womack Ala. 633 21 Tami Kashiwabara Japan 632 22 Christiana Bradley Va. 628 23 Kathi Hurst Miss. 627 24 Karla Bullard Texas 618 25 Teri Neal Ga. 610 25 Bonnie Johnson Texas 610 27 Kay Pennington La. 609 28 Ann Wells Ill. 593 29 Marcia Rubin Ohio 587 30 Linda Sands Ala. 584 31 Lisa Sternard Tenn. 580 32 Mary DiVincenti La. 578 33 Laura Moore Texas 577 34 Jan Heavener Ark. 576 35 Emily Shaffer Tenn. 573 36 Betty Stahl Ala. 554 37 Joan Davis Ind. 549 38 Sarah Augustine La. 544 39 Robin Babb Texas 541 40 Laura Gober Ga. 539 41 Sandi Karnes Texas 538 42 Kelley Shepherd Colo. 534 43 Cindy Van Horn Texas 528 44 Tanya Kreuzer Ariz. 527 45 Robin McFarlane Texas 526 46 Marsha Gipson Ark. 518 47 Sue Parrish Ind. 512 48 Angie Douthit Fla. 509 49 Kali Weatherford Texas 505 50 Jo Dee Bucki Ala. 496 51 Melanie Rockey Ga. 494 52 Cindy Caperton Tenn. 492 53 Kandie Candelaria Texas 478 54 Laura Heflin Kan. 477 55 Kathy Cater Texas 476 56 Lisa Johnson Ga. 464 57 Linda Redford Mo. 457 58 Deanie Tate Ark. 453 59 Rhonda Pope Ga. 447 60 Rose Ellis Ala. 438 60 Debra Petrowski Texas 438 62 Diane Phillips Texas 437 62 Madeline Smith Ark. 437 62 Michelle Armstrong N.C. 437 65 Pam Pope Texas 410 66 Cheryl LaLumandier Mo. 407 67 Keri Schieber Ga. 400 68 Christena Baugh Ark. 393 69 Susan Gregory Miss. 390 70 Pat White Texas 388 71 Helen Gordon Texas 385 72 Kellie Skelton N.M. 380 73 Lisa Craig Texas 367 74 Kathy Riley Miss. 364 75 Janet Parker Texas 362 76 Kris McClendon Texas 359 77 Darla Bardelli Ariz. 353 78 Lori Masters Tenn. 350 79 Robin Lefler Va. 346 80 Danalee Lofton Ark. 335 81 Becky McKinney Fla. 333 82 Billie Jaynes Texas 324 83 Kristy Darby Ark. 321 84 Mary Croft Va. 309 85 Cheryl Allen Texas 307 86 Karen Roberts Ala. 286 87 Kimberlee Striker Ala. 284 88 Debbie Kemp Texas 278 89 Rhonda Usery Ark. 266 90 Joan Craig Ark. 257 91 Connie Buckner Ala. 254 92 Jennifer Stelly La. 252 93 Gail Criswell Texas 229 94 Mickie Wolfinbarger Mo. 219 95 Kathy Magers Texas 209 96 Dana Davis Ala. 207 97 Sharon Waldo Ark. 191 98 Sandy Sherred Pa. 189 99 Donna Newberry Ark. 186 100 Susan Hand Ala. 168 101 Linda Walker Ark. 167 101 Pam Ridgle Texas 167 103 Cheryl Spencer Okla. 165 104 Wanda Malmsbury Mo. 147 105 Debra Cunningham Ariz. 139 106 Jen Carroll Texas 133 107 Judy Vancanneyt Ala. 130 108 Lila Bass Texas 123 109 Carolyn Poole Fla. 117 110 Violette Sesco Fla. 114 111 Cheryl Crafton Ky. 113 112 Paula Alexander Ga. 109 113 Julie Jacobson Wisc. 99 114 Robyn Gist Tenn. 89 115 Louise Howard Ala. 0 115 Sharri Brazzel Ariz. 0 115 Toni Corpe Calif. 0 2007 Women's Bassmaster Boater Points After Guntersville Lake ------------------------------------------- Place Name St Pts ------------------------------------------- 1 Sheri Glasgow Okla. 885 2 Pam Martin-Wells Ga. 851 3 Juanita Robinson Texas 807 4 Tammy Richardson Ark. 781 5 Audrey McQueen Colo. 764 6 Dianna Clark Tenn. 762 6 Judy Wong La. 762 8 Lucy Mize Ark. 738 9 Lynda Gessner Mo. 725 10 Cindy Hill Tenn. 718 11 Patti Campbell Texas 715 12 Debra Hengst Texas 714 13 Penny Berryman Ark. 682 14 Secret York Ky. 679 15 Robinette Fox Ark. 674 16 Christie Thomas Ala. 660 17 Tammie Muse Ark. 655 18 Mary Hencken N.C. 650 19 Jamie Patrick Ga. 638 20 Kathy Womack Ala. 633 21 Tami Kashiwabara Japan 632 22 Christiana Bradley Va. 628 23 Kathi Hurst Miss. 627 24 Karla Bullard Texas 618 25 Teri Neal Ga. 610 25 Bonnie Johnson Texas 610 27 Kay Pennington La. 609 28 Ann Wells Ill. 593 29 Marcia Rubin Ohio 587 30 Linda Sands Ala. 584 31 Lisa Sternard Tenn. 580 32 Mary DiVincenti La. 578 33 Laura Moore Texas 577 34 Jan Heavener Ark. 576 35 Emily Shaffer Tenn. 573 36 Betty Stahl Ala. 554 37 Joan Davis Ind. 549 38 Sarah Augustine La. 544 39 Robin Babb Texas 541 40 Laura Gober Ga. 539 41 Sandi Karnes Texas 538 42 Kelley Shepherd Colo. 534 43 Cindy Van Horn Texas 528 44 Tanya Kreuzer Ariz. 527 45 Robin McFarlane Texas 526 46 Marsha Gipson Ark. 518 47 Sue Parrish Ind. 512 48 Angie Douthit Fla. 509 49 Kali Weatherford Texas 505 50 Jo Dee Bucki Ala. 496 51 Melanie Rockey Ga. 494 52 Cindy Caperton Tenn. 492 53 Kandie Candelaria Texas 478 54 Laura Heflin Kan. 477 55 Kathy Cater Texas 476 56 Lisa Johnson Ga. 464 57 Linda Redford Mo. 457 58 Deanie Tate Ark. 453 59 Rhonda Pope Ga. 447 60 Rose Ellis Ala. 438 60 Debra Petrowski Texas 438 62 Diane Phillips Texas 437 62 Madeline Smith Ark. 437 62 Michelle Armstrong N.C. 437 65 Pam Pope Texas 410 66 Cheryl LaLumandier Mo. 407 67 Keri Schieber Ga. 400 68 Christena Baugh Ark. 393 69 Susan Gregory Miss. 390 70 Pat White Texas 388 71 Helen Gordon Texas 385 72 Kellie Skelton N.M. 380 73 Lisa Craig Texas 367 74 Kathy Riley Miss. 364 75 Janet Parker Texas 362 76 Kris McClendon Texas 359 77 Darla Bardelli Ariz. 353 78 Lori Masters Tenn. 350 79 Robin Lefler Va. 346 80 Danalee Lofton Ark. 335 81 Becky McKinney Fla. 333 82 Billie Jaynes Texas 324 83 Kristy Darby Ark. 321 84 Mary Croft Va. 309 85 Cheryl Allen Texas 307 86 Karen Roberts Ala. 286 87 Kimberlee Striker Ala. 284 88 Debbie Kemp Texas 278 89 Rhonda Usery Ark. 266 90 Joan Craig Ark. 257 91 Connie Buckner Ala. 254 92 Jennifer Stelly La. 252 93 Gail Criswell Texas 229 94 Mickie Wolfinbarger Mo. 219 95 Kathy Magers Texas 209 96 Dana Davis Ala. 207 97 Sharon Waldo Ark. 191 98 Sandy Sherred Pa. 189 99 Donna Newberry Ark. 186 100 Susan Hand Ala. 168 101 Linda Walker Ark. 167 101 Pam Ridgle Texas 167 103 Cheryl Spencer Okla. 165 104 Wanda Malmsbury Mo. 147 105 Debra Cunningham Ariz. 139 106 Jen Carroll Texas 133 107 Judy Vancanneyt Ala. 130 108 Lila Bass Texas 123 109 Carolyn Poole Fla. 117 110 Violette Sesco Fla. 114 111 Cheryl Crafton Ky. 113 112 Paula Alexander Ga. 109 113 Julie Jacobson Wisc. 99 114 Robyn Gist Tenn. 89 115 Louise Howard Ala. 0 115 Sharri Brazzel Ariz. 0 115 Toni Corpe Calif. 0