MINNEAPOLIS (March 31, 2010) - Donald Stanley of Newton, N.C., had more than one reason to cheer as Bryan Thrift of Shelby, N.C., won the 2010 FLW Tour bass fishing tournament on Lake Norman on March 27.
Stanley won $5,000 by playing the FLW Fantasy Fishing game held in conjunction with the Lake Norman event. Stanley's Fantasy Fishing team was led by Thrift and earned him 12,567 valuable points that will continue to accumulate throughout the season. Stanley, an FLW Outdoors and Player's Advantage member, has put himself in great position with only three FLW Tour stops remaining to win the $50,000 grand prize.
"This feels great," Stanley said. "It's not the money ... It's just knowing how good I did. I know that having five out of the top 10 is pretty unheard of."
Stanley, who works in the furniture business, is an avid fisherman familiar with Lake Norman who has fished against Thrift in previous competitions.
"That's why I picked him to win," Stanley said.
Fantasy Fishing winners will be announced after each of the five qualifying FLW Tour stops in the 2010 season. Finishing in second place on the fantasy side for the Lake Norman event was Rob Middleton of Huntersville, N.C., $500, and in third was Shawn Malcom of Monroe, Ga., $100. Several other winners from Arizona to Illinois to New York took home prizes ranging from $50 to $25.
Fantasy Fishing players are vying for an overall first place prize of $50,000. Second place will take home $25,000, while the third-place finisher will walk away with Cabela's Ultimate Fishing Trip, which includes a trip to Lake El Salto in Mexico and a $5,000 Cabela's gift card. The fourth-place finisher will win a Can-Am ATV valued at $9,699. All the prizes for 2010 are guaranteed and will be announced at the 2010 Forrest Wood Cup, Aug. 7, in Atlanta, Ga.
In 2010, Fantasy Fishing offers a new and simplified scoring system and selection process. Participants choose the anglers they anticipate having the highest finish in no particular order. Players receive Angler of the Year points as well as bonus points for each angler they have selected in the top 10. Of the 10 selected anglers, each player must choose the angler they anticipate winning the tournament. For a tiebreaker, participants choose the total weight for the winning angler.