DETROIT (July 11, 2008) - David Dudley of Lynchburg, Va., added to his already impressive list of career accomplishments by winning the Angler of the Year title Friday at the FLW Tour's final 2008 qualifier, the Open on the Detroit River, Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair.
Although this is Dudley's first Angler of the Year title, his pro bass-fishing résumé is extensive. In fact, Dudley owns the FLW Outdoors career earnings record with more than $2.3 million in winnings. He was the youngest angler in history to surpass the $1 million milestone, a feat he accomplished in 2002 at 26 years old, and the $2 million milestone, a mark he pass in 2006 at the age of 30. Additionally, Dudley boasts five victories - two FLW Tour, including the Forrest Wood Cup, one Wal-Mart FLW Series, one Stren Series and the Ranger M1.
"I've achieved the FLW Outdoors grand slam," said Dudley following Friday's weigh-in. "I've been at this for 14 years, and I've won at every level in the professional ranks. Now I can add Angler of the Year to the list, and to me, that's the most important."
Dudley jumped from fifth place in the Angler of the Year standings to earn the title with 1,003 out of a possible 1,200 points after finishing the Chevy Open in 38th place. He just edged out Brent Ehler of Redlands, Calif., who finished second with 1,002 points after finishing in 16th place. Pretournament leaders, Andy Morgan of Dayton, Tenn., and Glenn Browne of Ocala, Fla., stumbled Friday, finishing 192 and 197, respectively.
Along with the Angler of the Year title, which annually goes to the sport's most dominant bass angler, Dudley earned $65,000, including a new Ranger boat powered by Yamaha and $25,000 cash.
Dudley started the FLW Tour season off with a 67th-place effort on Lake Toho in Kissimmee, Fla. He then finished 43rd on Lewis Smith Lake in Jasper, Ala. At the Tour's third qualifying event, the Open, on Lake Norman in Charlotte, N.C., Dudley took 28th place. He earned a 26th-place finish in the Open on Beaver Lake in Rogers, Ark., in May and won on Fort Loudoun-Tellico lakes in Knoxville, Tenn., last month. Next up for Dudley is the $2 million Forrest Wood Cup in Columbia, S.C., Aug. 14-17.
The Angler of the Year title is determined by the total accumulated points from six regular-season events. Two hundred points are awarded for a win, 199 for second, 198 for third, and so on.