MINNEAPOLIS (Jan. 3, 2007) - Today, BP introduced its star-studded professional angling team for the 2007 Wal-Mart FLW Tour. Team BP is comprised of pros Ray Scheide, Jim Moynagh, Guido Hibdon, Shinichi Fukae, David Walker, J.T. Kenney, Tracy Adams and Alfred Williams. Co-anglers Judy Israel and Charles Ward will fish for Team BP from the back of the boat.
"BP is excited about competing in the one of the largest sports in America," stated Kevin Phelan, Sr. Vice President of Marketing for BP. "This team of all-star anglers was selected based on their commitment to quality, performance and the environment."
Earlier this year, BP came on board with FLW Outdoors and announced its platinum sponsorship, including title sponsorship of a division in the revamped 2007 Wal-Mart FLW Series. The new FLW Series will consist of two divisions - the FLW Series BP Eastern Division and the FLW Series National Guard Western Division - each consisting of four $1 million qualifying events.
Recently finishing the 2006 Land O'Lakes Angler of the Year race in fourth place, Scheide certainly has momentum on his side. This past year was his best ever, and it included five top-50 finishes that added up to nearly $100,000 in earnings. In fact, the Russellville, Ark., pro cashed a check in every FLW Tour event. Moreover, he finished second at the 2006 FLW Tour Championship, just 11 ounces away from first place and a $500,000 payday.
"I can't imagine a more natural fit than BP and bass fishing," Scheide said. "They complement each other so well; they are everywhere we are. It just really makes sense for the fishermen and for BP. They've picked an unbelievably talented group of anglers, too."
With 11 top-10 appearances to his credit and a third-place finish in the 2006 Land O'Lakes Angler of the Year race, Moynagh is arguably the hottest bass angler north of the Mason-Dixon Line. The Carver, Minn., native has amassed $661,179 in career FLW Outdoors earnings, including three victories.
"It's an unbelievable honor to be a member of the new BP Team," Moynagh said. "Being associated with such a great group of anglers is an honor in itself. This is the perfect opportunity to get involved with a company that really supports fishing. When I join a sponsor team like this, they have to provide a product or service that I use and that I can recommend to other people."
Hibdon, the elder angler in the legendary Hibdon clan, has been fishing with FLW Outdoors since 1996. With seven top-10 finishes and nearly $300,000 in career earnings, the Gravois Mills, Mo., pro is one of the best jig fishermen on the planet. Hibdon took a particular liking to the new FLW Series, where he prequalified for the $2 million 2007 Forrest Wood Cup.
Fukae, the 2004 Land O'Lakes Angler of the Year, had a banner year in 2006, winning the FLW Tour season opener on Lake Okeechobee in Clewiston, Fla., and then the Wal-Mart Open on Beaver Lake in Rogers, Ark., earning $300,000 in the first half of the season alone. Not only did he have two FLW Tour wins in 2006, Fukae also had two other top-fives on the tour and one top-five finish on the FLW Series. Fukae has only been fishing FLW Outdoors events since 2004, but he has already amassed an astonishing $523,800 in tournament winnings. Like Hibdon, Fukae has already punched his ticket to the 2007 Forrest Wood Cup through the FLW Series.
Walker has recorded an astounding 32 top-10 finishes on his way to more than $450,000 in career earnings with FLW Outdoors. The Sevierville, Tenn., native and bass-fishing veteran has also dabbled in the Wal-Mart FLW Redfish Series. In fact, Walker has already claimed a top-10 finish and twice qualified for the year-end championship through his new fishing venture.
Kenney, known around bass-fishing circles as the flipping king, is no stranger to success on the water. He has fished in 101 FLW Outdoors tournaments since 1998, spanning the FLW Tour, FLW Series, Stren Series and the Wal-Mart BFL. On Jan. 23, 2002, Kenney's fishing career changed forever when he took first place in the FLW Tour event on Lake Okeechobee, earning him $110,000. To date, Kenney has 21 top-10 finishes and nearly $400,000 in career earnings.
Adams has been a consistently successful angler, but his career took off this past June when he took first place on Lake Champlain, earning $100,000. In his career, the Wilkesboro, N.C., pro has eight top-10 finishes and over $370,000 in earnings to his name.
Williams is a veteran of FLW Outdoors competition, having competed in over 100 events since 1995. Williams, who hails from Jackson, Miss., also boasts three victories and 10 top-10 finishes.