THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, April 27, 1995 TAG: 9504270488
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BOB HUTCHINSON, OUTDOORS EDITOR
LENGTH: Short : 38 lines
The waters of Buggs Island Lake near Boydton, Va., will be invaded this morning by an armada whose 306 anglers will have an almost singular goal: winning the $35,000 top prize in the Bassmaster Virginia Invitational largemouth bass tournament.
But for some contestants, including Rick Morris of Virginia Beach and Woo Daves of Spring Grove, Va., a victory could be worth a lot more than $35,000. It would almost certainly propel either into the annual Bassmaster Classic, to be held near Greensboro in August.
Limited to 41 anglers, the Classic is considered the World Series of professional bass fishing. While a Classic victory pays but $50,000, previous winners have said it was worth $1 million in equipment endorsements, sponsorships and public appearances.
Morris, 33, is in 41st place in the Bassmaster ``Top 100'' standings. The top 25 gain automatic Classic berths. Daves, 48, is 43rd.
Other Hampton Roads anglers in the Virginia Invitational include Chris Daves (Woo's son) of Spring Grove; Ivan Morris, Jim Sumrell, Jerry Evans, Jeffrey A. Mitchell and Les Ore, all from Virginia Beach; Phil Parker and Curtis Lytle of Suffolk; Keith Jennings of Chesapeake; Larry D. Lusk of Yorktown; and Ron Stallings of Franklin.
The tournament will run through Saturday, with cash awards for the top 55 finishers. Prizes and money will total $195,000.
The boats will be launched in ``flights,'' starting at 6 each morning, from North Bend Park near Boydton. Weigh-ins will begin at 3 p.m. daily at the park. by CNB