SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Despite utilizing just half of his allotted practice time, Steve Kennedy of Auburn, Ala., boated 17 pounds, 12 ounces, of Oneida Lake largemouth bass Thursday at the Bassmaster Memorial bass fishing tournament to distance himself from Kelly Jordon of Mineola, Texas, by almost 2 pounds.
Kennedy, the 2006 Toyota Rookie of the Year, went to Alabama for the funeral of his grandmother, Gladys, on Monday - the first day of practice on Oneida. He still was able to practice for a portion of Tuesday, but the 38-year-old cited his experience last year at a Bassmaster Elite Series event on Oneida as the key to his day Thursday. Kennedy finished in 30th place in that tournament.
"I was living right today," said Kennedy, who won an Elite Series event earlier this year on California's Clear Lake. "With the limited practice, I really don't have much to go to out there but I was able to get lucky and land some big bites. I finally sat on a spot that I did well on last year and it paid off."
Kennedy, who holds the BASS tournament record for heaviest four-day catch set at Clear Lake, started the day in search of smallmouth but after a frustrating start decided to switch gears and target largemouth. He, like many others in the 51-angler field, feels that the fish are deeper than last year and aren't biting as well.
Friday, Kennedy will use the same pattern and will look to catch more than 10 pounds, an amount he feels will put him safely in the top 12. The top 12 anglers will move on to Saturday's competition, before which the weights will be zeroed on Lake Onondaga. The final day of action Sunday will feature the top six anglers, again on Onondaga. Anglers will fish a rotating six-hole course on both days.
"It will be tough to repeat those big bites Friday," said Kennedy, who landed the Purolator Big Bass of the Day, a 5-pound, 1-ounce brute. "But it's not like I have any other areas to go to."
Jordon, who totaled 15 pounds, 15 ounces, was confident that he could catch another solid limit Friday. The 36-year-old caught all of his fish by 10:30 a.m. and never culled. He started out targeting 15 pounds, and he was happy with the extra weight.
"I am surrounded by a ton of fish," the four-time BASS winner said. "I'm pretty confident that I can make the cut. We will have to see what Onondaga holds."
Four ounces behind Jordon was Chris Lane of Winter Haven, Fla., in third with 15 pounds, 11 ounces. Rounding out the top five was Mike McClelland of Bella Vista, Ark., in fourth with 15 pounds, 9 ounces, and Dean Rojas of Grand Saline, Texas, in fifth with 15 pounds, 8 ounces.
Every angler in the field caught a five-fish limit. John Murray of Phoenix is on the bubble in 12th place with 14 pounds, 7 ounces.
2007 Bassmaster Memorial 07/26-07/29
Oneida Lake, Syracuse N.Y.
(PRO Division) Standings Day 1
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Steve Kennedy Auburn, Ala. 5 17-12 0 $2,000.00
Day 1: 5 17-12
2. Kelly Jordon Mineola, Texas 5 15-15 0
Day 1: 5 15-15
3. Chris Lane Winter Haven, Fla. 5 15-11 0
Day 1: 5 15-11
4. Mike McClelland Bella Vista, Ark. 5 15-09 0
Day 1: 5 15-09
5. Dean Rojas Grand Saline, Texas 5 15-08 0
Day 1: 5 15-08
6. Dave Wolak Wake Forest, N.C. 5 15-04 0
Day 1: 5 15-04
7. John Crews Salem, Va. 5 15-01 0
Day 1: 5 15-01
8. Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, Calif. 5 15-00 0
Day 1: 5 15-00
9. Denny Brauer Camdenton, Mo. 5 14-13 0
Day 1: 5 14-13
10. Randy Howell Springville, Ala. 5 14-10 0
Day 1: 5 14-10
11. Takahiro Omori Emory, Texas 5 14-09 0
Day 1: 5 14-09
12. John Murray Phoenix, Ariz. 5 14-07 0
Day 1: 5 14-07
13. Jason Quinn Lake Wylie, S.C. 5 14-06 0
Day 1: 5 14-06
13. Aaron Martens Leeds, Ala. 5 14-06 0
Day 1: 5 14-06
15. Stephen Browning Hot Springs, Ark. 5 14-04 0
Day 1: 5 14-04
16. Mark Tyler Vian, Okla. 5 14-01 0
Day 1: 5 14-01
16. Mike Wurm Hot Springs, Ark. 5 14-01 0
Day 1: 5 14-01
18. Michael Iaconelli Runnemede, N.J. 5 14-00 0
Day 1: 5 14-00
19. Peter E Thliveros Jacksonville, Fla. 5 13-13 0
Day 1: 5 13-13
20. Russ Lane Prattville, Ala. 5 13-12 0
Day 1: 5 13-12
21. Greg Hackney Gonzales, La. 5 13-09 0
Day 1: 5 13-09
22. Bill Lowen North Bend, Ohio 5 13-08 0
Day 1: 5 13-08
22. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich. 5 13-08 0
Day 1: 5 13-08
24. Tommy Biffle Wagoner, Okla. 5 13-07 0
Day 1: 5 13-07
25. Davy Hite Ninety Six, S.C. 5 13-05 0
Day 1: 5 13-05
26. Kevin Wirth Crestwood, Ky. 5 13-04 0
Day 1: 5 13-04
27. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, Okla. 5 13-03 0
Day 1: 5 13-03
27. Terry Scroggins San Mateo, Fla. 5 13-03 0
Day 1: 5 13-03
29. Timmy Horton Muscle Shoals, Ala. 5 13-02 0
Day 1: 5 13-02
30. Boyd Duckett Demopolis, Ala. 5 12-14 0
Day 1: 5 12-14
31. Edwin Evers Talala, Okla. 5 12-13 0
Day 1: 5 12-13
32. Todd Faircloth Jasper, Texas 5 12-12 0
Day 1: 5 12-12
32. Skeet Reese Auburn, Calif. 5 12-12 0
Day 1: 5 12-12
34. Alton Jones Waco, Texas 5 12-08 0
Day 1: 5 12-08
34. Fred Roumbanis Auburn, Calif. 5 12-08 0
Day 1: 5 12-08
36. Shaw E Grigsby, Jr Gainesville, Fla. 5 12-05 0
Day 1: 5 12-05
36. Gary Klein Weatherford, Texas 5 12-05 0
Day 1: 5 12-05
36. Scott Rook Little Rock, Ark. 5 12-05 0
Day 1: 5 12-05
39. Ray Sedgwick Cross, S.C. 5 12-04 0
Day 1: 5 12-04
40. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, Ala. 5 12-02 0
Day 1: 5 12-02
41. Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, Kan. 5 11-15 0
Day 1: 5 11-15
42. Mark Tucker Saint Louis, Mo. 5 11-13 0
Day 1: 5 11-13
43. Yusuke Miyazaki Mineola, Texas 5 11-12 0
Day 1: 5 11-12
43. Jeff Reynolds Idabel, Okla. 5 11-12 0
Day 1: 5 11-12
45. Derek Remitz Madison, Ala. 5 11-11 0
Day 1: 5 11-11
45. Kevin Short Mayflower, Ark. 5 11-11 0
Day 1: 5 11-11
45. Gerald Swindle Warrior, Ala. 5 11-11 0
Day 1: 5 11-11
48. Kenyon Hill Norman, Okla. 5 11-08 0
Day 1: 5 11-08
49. Mark Menendez Paducah, Ky. 5 10-08 0
Day 1: 5 10-08
50. Matt Reed Madisonville, Texas 5 9-12 0
Day 1: 5 9-12
51. Ishama Monroe Hughson, Calif. 5 9-01 0
Day 1: 5 9-01
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Big Bass
Day
1 Stephen Kennedy Auburn, Ala. 5-01 $1,000.00
Day
1 Stephen Kennedy Auburn, Ala. 17-12 $1,000.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 51 255 677-09
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51 255 677-09