Kerr wins U.S. Open to edge all-time tourney leader Dobyns
LAS VEGAS, NV. ‹ First-time pro John Kerr of Ramona parlayed three 9-pound
limits and then held on to outlast 10-time WON BASS winner Gary Dobyns, in
capturing the Miller High Life U.S. Open on Wednesday and a $118,000in cash
and merchandise at Lake Mead.
Kerr, the model of consistency, brought in bags weighing 9.29, 9.05 and 9.17 pounds while fishing Zara Spooks in the Temple Bar area for a total of 27.51 pounds, enough to edge Dobyns, who finished with 26.15 pounds. The Yuba City pro, who reported carrying ³eight rods with reaction baits² closed the gap on the second day with a 10.01 sack, but could get no closer than 1.36 pounds. He took home $15,000 for his efforts. Third place went to local angler and two-time former Open champion Byron Velvick of Boulder City, who finished with 23.59 pounds ($12,500) while Kota Kiriyama, a Japanese touring pro now living in Alabama, took fourth with 22.82 pounds ($10,000). Neither was ever really in contention for the top spot, but moved up when first and second day leader Clifford Pirch of Payson, Arizona could only bring in two bass on the final round and dropped to fifth spot with 22.15, good for $8,000. Kerr¹s top prize included a Ford F150 pick-up and fully rigged Ranger bass boat and trailer with Mercury outboard, MotorGuide trolling motor, Trojan batteries and Lowrance electronics, presented in the awards ceremonies Wednesday night at the host Sunset Station hotel and casino in Henderson. In the AAA division, Edward Gavin II of St. George, UT, took the top spot and $10,000 for his three-day total of 23.91 pounds. He was followed in the standings by Jun Yada of San Diego with 23.57 pounds and Ben Andreas of Las Vegas with 23 pounds even. The latter won $4,000 and $3,000 respectively. Rounding out the top five in the AAA division were Dr. Randy Estrada of Corona in fourth with 22.09 pounds, good for $2,500 while Jack Kirts of Anthem, AZ was fifth with 20.20 pounds, good for $2,000.
The 133 boat U.S. Open field, launched out of Callville Bay and endured high winds and rough conditions for the first two days of competition, but also enjoyed better action with the stiff breezes. Randall Bruce, a AAA competitor, caught a 3.96-pound largemouth on the first day, the largest of the tournament, and won a $20,000 package that included a Ranger 175VS with 90-hp. Mercury outboard, Lowrance electronics, MotorGuide trolling motor and Trojan batteries.
WON BASS Miller High Life tournaments are sponsored by Ranger boats and trailers, Mercury outboards, Daiwa rods and reels, Miller Brewing Co., Quantum rods and reels, MotorGuide trolling motors, Ford Dealers of Southern California, El Cajon Ford, Kelly Tires, Berkley Trilene line and Frenzy lures, Lowrance Electronics, Trojan batteries, Luhr-Jensen lures, Owner Hooks/Cultiva Lures, Bass Weekly Radio KRLA 590AM, Lucky Craft lures, Angler¹s Advantage Insurance Program, Plano Outdoor Products, Costa del Mar sunglasses, Leatherman tools, Matzuo lures, Kinami Baits, Mad Man lures, Banana Boat suncare products, Cargobat storage systems, Prolong Lubricants, Anglers Marine boat/tackle sales, The Outdoor Channel television network, Zeiss binoculars, Water Gremlin sinkers, Bassfan.com, Zipper Worms, Extra Edge Products, Yamamoto Custom Baits, Mojo Lure Co., Strike Pro USA, Rebel lures, Heddon lures, Bomber lures and Excalibur lures.
Complete standings for both Pro and AAA anglers are listed on the Internet at www.wonbass.com or contact WON BASS, P.O. Box 73370, 185 Avenida La Pata, San Clemente, CA 92673; (949) 366-0030, ext. 38.
Pro Standings (Money winners)
Place, Name Hometown Fish Big Fish Total Money
1 John Kerr Ramona CA 15 2.42 27.51 $118,000
2 Gary Dobyns Yuba City CA 15 2.27 26.15 17,500
3 Byron Velvick Boulder City NV 15 23.59 12,500
4 Kota Kiriyama New Milford NJ 13 2.22 22.82 12,500
5 Clifford Pirch Payson AZ 11 3.44 22.15 12,500
6 John Parks Aztec NM 15 21.72 7,000
7 Jon Strelic Alpine CA 15 2.74 21.52 6,000
8 John Murray Phoenix AZ 15 21.25 4,500
9 Scott Nielsen Salt Lake City UT 15 21.11 4,000
10 Dennis Kolender Henderson NV 14 20.97 3,800
11 Steven R. Morris Lompoc CA 14 2.19 20.48 3,600
12 Dean Rojas Lake Havasu City AZ 14 2.54 20.14 3,400
13 Matt Shura Gilbert AZ 14 2.20 19.55 3,200
14 Ted Roper Kingman AZ 13 3.18 19.48 5,000
15 Bobby Sandberg Henderson NV 15 18.93 3,000
16 Rusty Brown Tustin CA 11 2.62 18.68 3,000
17 Gary Boyd Reseda CA 15 3.66 18.67 5,000
18 Roy Hawk Salt Lake City UT 13 2.21 18.65 3,000
19 Pat Clement Anderson CA 11 18.30 2,800
20 Don Iglinski Henderson NV 12 2.13 17.61 2,800
21 Rich Tauber Moorpark CA 15 17.55 2,800
22 Don Iovino Burbank CA 14 17.49 2,600
AAA FINAL STANDINGS (Money winners)
Place, Name Hometown Fish Big Fish Total Money
1 Edward Gavin II St. George UT 14 2.46 23.91 $12,500
2 Jun Yada San Diego CA 14 23.57 6,500
3 Ben Andreas Las Vegas NV 15 23.00 3,000
4 Randy Estrada Corona CA 15 22.09 2,500
5 Jack Kirts Anthem AZ 12 20.20 2,000
6 Dennis Brown Glendale AZ 13 2.78 20.19 1,600
7 Eddie Garcia Azusa CA 12 19.18 1,500
8 Thomas Elliott Downey CA 13 18.64 1,300
9 James Gross Kingman AZ 14 18.42 1,100
10 Grady Garrison Norco CA 12 18.36 1,000
11 Michael Rosas Frazier Park CA 12 18.25 900
12 Mika Suzuki Chatsworth CA 11 2.78 18.08 2,900
13 Trent Doser Las Vegas NV 12 17.88 800
14 Pat Reddy Laguna Niguel CA 12 17.65 800
15 George Thiel Banning CA 11 17.28 800
16 Hiroyuki Kato Japan 11 17.08 700
17 Kim Bain Australia 11 16.99 700
18 Rob Copple Las Vegas NV 15 16.86 700
19 Paul Fontaine Brentwood CA 13 16.51 700
20 Bruce Hardy St. George UT 12 16.47 700
21 Jim Ryan Torrance CA 10 2.18 16.46 700
22 Randall Bruce North Las Vegas NV 11 3.96 16.33 22,700
WON Bass
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