ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, May 12, 1996 TAG: 9605130175
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich., claimed the 1996 B.A.S.S. Angler of the Year award, after his 14th-place finish in the Alabama Top 100 tournament in Gadsden, Ala.
VanDam, 28, also won the award in 1992. The Angler of the Year is awarded to the fisherman who tallies the most points in Top 100 tournaments and the MegaBucks tourney. One hundred points are awarded to the winner of these tournaments, second place earns 99 and so on. VanDam earned $7,500 for the points title and will receive free entry into all BASSMaster trail events next year. He has earned more than $405,000 in his fishing career.
The Angler of the Year award and the BASS Masters Classic championship are regarded as the two top prizes in bass tournament fishing. Jim Bitter of Fruitland Park, Fla., was second. He had 579 points to VanDam's 594.
Davy Hite of Prosperity, S.C., won the Alabama Top 100 with a four-day limit of 20 bass weighing 55 pounds. He won $45,000. David Dudley of Lynchburg finished in 26th place, one spot out of the money, with 42 pounds, 11 ounces. One more ounce would have have tied him for 25th, which paid $3,000.
LENGTH: Short : 30 linesby CNB