KIMBERLING CITY, Mo. - Celebrating a dominating performance in the 2006 season of the Women's Bassmaster Tour, Dianna Clark of Bumpus Mills., Tenn., walked away from the fifth and final event as the inaugural Women's Bassmaster Tour Angler of the Year.
Clark, who broke new ground by winning two of the Tour's events and placed in the top 10 in one more, sealed her accomplishment - by just three points - with a fifth-place showing this week at the Bull Shoals tournament in Missouri.
"I am very humbled by the award," she said. "When I realized what I had done, it hit me so hard it took my breath away. I can't ever remember feeling like that it my life."
Clark, 42, opened the season by placing 32nd on Neely Henry Lake in Alabama. She won the second event on Lewisville Lake in Texas and placed seventh in the third event on Lake Norman in North Carolina. She won again - this time on Lake Dardanelle in Arkansas - at the fourth event. She ended the season with 1,393 points.
"I feel pretty good about winning the tournament on Dardanelle, and the excitement really took my breath away," said Clark. "It was something I never experienced in my life - leading an event all three days."
The Women's Tour Angler of the Year title rewards the season's most consistent angler and includes a new, completely redesigned 2007 Toyota Tundra Double Cab Pickup Truck.
"It's hard to put in words, but it's a great accomplishment," said Clark. "To win Angler of the Year, that's the top of the world right there. Once you've got it no one can take it away."
In addition to competing for the Toyota Women's Tour Angler of the Year title, WBT anglers were in hot pursuit of qualifying for the inaugural Women's Tour Championship, Feb. 22-25, 2007, on Lake Mitchell in Alabama. Only the top 12 pros and 12 co-anglers in the points standings were invited to compete in this showdown that takes place during Classic week.
Angler who qualified in the championship include Clark, ESPY winner Tammy Richardson of Amity, Ark., who finished second in the points with 1,390; Lucy Mize of Ben Lomond, Ark., Tammy Muse of North Little Rock, Ark.; Sheri Glasgow of Muskogee, Okla.; Emily Shaffer of Mount Juliet, Tenn.; Cindy Hill of Smyrna, Tenn.; Lisa Sternard of Clarksville, Tenn.; Juanita Robinson of Highlands, Texas,; Robin Babb of Livingston, Texas; Lisa Sands of Cullman, Ala.; and Pam Martin-Wells of Bainbridge, Ga.
"It's an honor to be part of the WBT and one of the top 12 to make it to the first championship," said Muse, 46. "I think it's going to be awesome. I've always set my goals pretty high and I'm going to set my standards high at this event. I would like to be the first woman to win it and think I have a pretty good chance."
On the co-angler side, Bonnie Ward of Snohomish, Wash., leads the charge with 1,184 points followed by Mary Croft of Bedford, Va.; Keri Schieber of Cumming, Ga.; Kim Stapp of Ringgold, Ga.; Heather Sullivan of Montevallo, Ala.; Lila Bass of Austin, Texas; Sharon Rushton of Kimberling City, Mo.; Tammie Ply of Harrison, Ark.; Angie Everitt of Livingston, Texas; Summer Stephens of Flintstone, Ga.; Colleen McKay of Worcester, Mass.; and Karen Williams of Stark City, Mo.
2006 Women's Bassmaster Tour Stop 5 Boater Points After Bull Shoals Lake, Theodesia, Mo. Ending 09-16-2006, Day 3 ------------------------------------------- Place Name St Pts ------------------------------------------- 1 Dianna Clark Tenn. 1393 2 Tammy Richardson Ark. 1390 3 Lucy Mize Ark. 1268 4 Tammie Muse Ark. 1257 5 Sheri Glasgow Okla. 1251 6 Emily Shaffer Tenn. 1211 7 Cindy Hill Tenn. 1203 8 Lisa Sternard Tenn. 1196 9 Juanita Robinson Texas 1169 10 Robin Babb Texas 1140 11 Linda Sands Ala. 1097 12 Pam Martin-Wells Ga. 1076 13 Christie Thomas Ala. 1068 13 Cindy Van Horn Texas 1068 15 Jan Hudson Ark. 1061 16 Rhonda Pope Ga. 1047 17 Mary Hencken N.C. 1003 18 Christiana Bradley Va. 978 19 Jan Heavener Ark. 977 20 Marcia Rubin Ohio 975 21 Betty Stahl Ala. 969 22 Kris Mcclendon Texas 955 23 Kathi Hurst Miss. 950 24 Danalee Lofton Ark. 948 25 Judy Wong La. 947 26 Cheryl Lalumandier Mo. 937 27 Kathy Womack Ala. 934 28 Kelley Shepherd Colo. 925 29 Lisa Johnson Ga. 921 30 Kimberlee Striker Ala. 915 31 Penny Berryman Ark. 866 32 Cindy Caperton Tenn. 864 33 Angie Douthit Fla. 856 34 Laura Gober Ga. 842 35 Tanya Kreuzer Ariz. 839 36 Janet Parker Texas 838 37 Sue Parrish Ind. 822 38 Tommie Domingue Texas 818 39 Shelley Perry W.Va. 817 40 Conny Jenkins Mo. 806 41 Joan Davis Ind. 803 42 Tami Kashiwabara Japan 788 43 Louise Howard Ala. 781 44 Linda Walker Ark. 779 45 Rose Ellis Ala. 766 46 Deanie Tate Ark. 761 47 Wanda Malmsbury Mo. 760 48 Lori Masters Tenn. 754 49 Jonell Whitstine La. 734 50 Paula Alexander Ga. 716 51 Mary Divincenti La. 707 52 Robinette Fox Ark. 698 53 Lisa Craig Texas 696 54 Ann Wells Ill. 664 55 Susan Hand Ala. 662 56 Secret York Ky. 653 56 Laura Moore Texas 653 58 Debra Petrowski Texas 650 59 Sandra Sherred Pa. 642 60 Teri Neal Ga. 628 61 Julie Jacobson Wisc. 618 61 Michelle Armstrong N.C. 618 63 Susan Gregory Miss. 613 64 Helen Gordon Texas 599 65 Patti Campbell Texas 583 66 Sammie Denyes Fla. 574 66 Sarah Augustine La. 574 68 Sue Crochet La. 566 69 Donna Newberry Ark. 554 70 Joan Craig Ark. 546 71 Linda Owens Miss. 517 72 Toni Stoner Ga. 509 73 Brenda Davis Okla. 504 74 Debra Hengst Texas 492 75 Melanie Rockey Ga. 454 76 Kandie Candelaria Texas 450 77 Lynda Gessner Mo. 422 78 Carla Whitstine La. 382 79 Pat White Texas 381 80 Judy Antle Ky. 373 81 Sherrie Brubaker Okla. 371 81 Carolyn Poole Fla. 371 83 Becky Mckinney Fla. 365 84 Kellie Skelton N.M. 357 85 Katrina Dehaven Ariz. 355 86 Kathy Cater Texas 343 86 Cheryl Spencer Okla. 343 88 Crystal Langston Ala. 342 89 Brenda Bates Texas 329 90 Madeline Smith Ark. 315 91 Linda Redford Mo. 308 92 Karen Welty Ind. 307 93 Mickie Wolfinbarger Mo. 300 94 Darla Bardelli Ariz. 294 95 Rae Lee Texas 279 96 Amy Golden Texas 260 96 Rhonda Usery Ark. 260 98 Danielle Kremer Fla. 248 99 Tina Lefler Va. 245 100 Violette Sesco Fla. 234 101 Doris Parsons N.C. 233 102 Kristy Darby Ark. 209 103 Barbara Wetzel Ala. 203 104 Kitsy Cunningham Okla. 200 105 Audrey Mcqueen Colo. 191 106 Barbara Potts Texas 183 107 Arah Phillips Texas 182 108 Jennifer Stelly La. 177 109 Elizabeth Meisell Texas 175 110 Bonnie Katke Mo. 172 111 Jen Carroll Texas 170 112 Kathy Kirby N.C. 163 113 bonnie johnson Texas 157 114 Angela Dechau Mo. 147 115 Patsy Mcdaniel Ala. 143 116 Marguerite Palmer Miss. 135 117 Caroline Carpenter Fla. 129 118 Sherri Dodson Ala. 108 119 Marilyn Biszmaier Ky. 93 120 Deb Doyal La. 83 121 Marsha Gipson Ark. 81 122 Kathy Tibbetts Va. 0 122 Amanda Hubbard Ill. 0 122 Tammy Waller Texas 0 122 Lucie Maus Texas 0 2006 Women's Tour Stop 5 Non-Boater Points After Bull Shoals Lake, Theodesia, Mo. Ending 09-16-2006, Day 3 ------------------------------------------- Place Name St Pts ------------------------------------------- 1 Bonnie Ward Wash. 1184 2 Mary Croft Va. 1169 3 Keri Schieber Ga. 1159 4 Kim Stapp Ga. 1114 5 Heather Sullivan Ala. 1012 6 Lila Bass Texas 990 7 Sharon Rushton Mo. 986 8 Tammie Ply Ark. 985 9 Angie Everitt Texas 974 10 Summer Stephens Ga. 944 11 Colleen Mckay Mass. 936 12 Karen Williams Mo. 923 13 Susan Bowes N.Y. 897 14 Jo Dee Bucki Ala. 888 15 Linda Berry N.C. 886 16 Sharon Withers Texas 874 17 Sandi Karnes Texas 858 18 Susan Dameron Tenn. 814 19 Robertina Filburn Ky. 813 19 Diane Smith Ga. 813 21 Carol Boykin Ind. 803 22 Ronda Kirby Ind. 785 23 Carrie Bronson Fla. 777 24 Sarah Busby La. 771 25 Kay Pennington La. 762 26 Gerry Threadgill Texas 739 27 Debbie Pegoli Ohio 725 28 Kathy Riley Miss. 719 29 Jacqueline Helton Ark. 716 30 Cheryl Crafton Ind. 698 31 Elizabeth Sanders Miss. 672 32 Lesa Brown Ark. 669 33 Mary James Ark. 667 34 Patricia Atkinson Mass. 665 35 Susan Wild D.C. 660 36 Billie Jaynes Texas 652 37 Barbara Gaskins Va. 651 38 Karen Roberts Ala. 643 39 Tracy Doty Texas 640 40 Toni Mode Ore. 592 41 Bertha Cavakis Ark. 587 42 Deb Krueger Mich. 551 42 Laura Heflin Kan. 551 44 Renee Brisendine N.C. 549 45 Brenda Reeves Texas 535 46 Carilyn Hill Okla. 531 47 Terri Mackinnon Canada 501 48 Jennifer Helgren Ill. 497 49 Sherry Melton Tenn. 496 50 Bobbie Barfield Ga. 492 51 Judy Vancanneyt Miss. 489 52 Laura Elkins Texas 477 53 Diane Delagarza Texas 468 54 Cheryl Allen Texas 466 55 Donna Prado Texas 456 56 Robin Kolton Texas 452 57 Denese Freeman Okla. 430 58 Angela Mitchell Canada 429 59 Jaye Smith Mich. 410 59 Dianna Fanning Ark. 410 61 Sharon Lawson Tenn. 408 62 Robin Mcfarlane Texas 400 62 Marsha Betz Texas 400 64 Debra Cunningham Ariz. 396 65 Vicki Hester Ala. 395 66 Christena Baugh Ark. 370 66 Sharon Mcewen Pa. 370 68 Patti Harland Ala. 365 69 Maggie Robledo Texas 357 70 Cheryl Holloway La. 328 71 Kala Wright Okla. 320 71 Pam Anthony Tenn. 320 73 Monica Altman N.C. 315 74 Charlene Parks Fla. 310 75 De Lynn Montez Mo. 298 76 Pat White Texas 295 77 Lydia Smith Texas 290 78 Cathy Smith La. 280 79 Cheryl Bowden Texas 276 80 Sylvia Hudson Fla. 264 81 Sheila Merrow Maine 254 82 Pam Ridgle Texas 251 83 April Painter La. 250 84 Violette Sesco Fla. 248 84 Kali Weatherford Texas 248 86 Sharon Gentry Mo. 243 87 Vicki Henderson Ark. 241 88 Judith Hart Texas 238 88 Elaine Morris Ark. 238 90 Tina Newman Tenn. 235 90 Cheryl Scott Texas 235 92 Debra Wilson Texas 232 93 Susan Owens Va. 228 94 Tabitha Rudd Ala. 223 95 Allison Steckelberg Ga. 222 96 Shawn Conner Ind. 220 96 Karol Whitehurst Texas 220 98 Arah Phillips Texas 218 99 Donna Gilzow Ark. 215 100 Kim Petrowski Texas 211 100 Julie Garriety Texas 211 102 Dianne Kegley Ark. 210 103 Kristin Eaton Ala. 207 103 Bridget Allen Pa. 207 103 Shelia Wood Ark. 207 106 Carolyn Voyles Texas 204 107 Junie Parmer Texas 199 108 Terri Bittner Calif. 189 109 Linda Worley La. 188 110 Nancy Oliver La. 187 111 Tracy Pace Texas 185 112 Joyce Austin Ky. 184 113 Dana Davis Ala. 175 114 Dawn Ryerson Ill. 173 114 Brenda Joyce Carson Okla. 173 116 Sabrina Sivley Ala. 163 117 Cindy Hardy Ala. 158 118 Rhonda Ford Ga. 155 119 Cindy Burnham Canada 153 120 Sandy Jeane Texas 147 121 Beverly Dickson Ark. 144 121 Lillian Gutierrez Texas 144 123 Darla Mcintosh Fla. 133 124 Denise Lusk S.C. 130 124 Sugar Walker Ala. 130 126 Teresa Morris Tenn. 125 127 Shelia Campbell Fla. 123 128 Kelly Spear Ohio 119 128 Barbie Haralson Texas 119 130 Dee Barger Ala. 110 130 Jen Carroll Texas 110 132 Stacy Woodall Ga. 102 133 Linda Keithley Mo. 0 133 Sue Freeman Md. 0 133 Vanessa Seay Va. 0 133 Diana Dietzen Ind. 0 133 Anne Salonish Pa. 0 133 Vivian Estep Va. 0 133 Angie Wright Ala. 0 133 Kimberly King Va. 0 133 Norma Ussery Texas 0 133 Lisa Garcia N.H. 0 133 Robbie Hartline Mo. 0 133 Keary Shults Fla. 0 133 Laura Taylor Fla. 0 133 Angie Michaels Neb. 0 133 Tonya Pollack Fla. 0 133 Liz Lewis Texas 0 133 Patricia Levitt N.M. 0 133 Julia Reynolds Mo. 0 133 Kimberly Martin Ind. 0 133 Karen Wall Bush N.J. 0 133 Paula Tharp Okla. 0 133 Robin Washburn Ga. 0 133 Bonnie Betts Mo. 0 133 Cynthia Ward Md. 0 133 Linda Thomas Okla. 0 133 Janet Neal Texas 0 133 Mary Lipka Mo. 0 133 Melissa Bond N.M. 0 133 Pamela Putman Texas 0 133 Jennifer Horn Texas 0 133 Mary Waters Va. 0 133 Greta Gaines N.Y. 0 133 Kathy Rudy Pa. 0 133 Charlotte Frazier Texas 0 133 Karen James La. 0 133 Bonnie Erspamer Tenn. 0