The 12-angler field for the inaugural two-event Bassmaster Elite Series postseason that will determine the 2009 Angler of the Year (AOY) was set today following the conclusion of the final regular-season event at New York's Oneida Lake.
BASS took the anglers' regular-season point totals and moved the decimal point one place to the left (i.e. 1,983 points becomes 198). Also, Kevin VanDam, Mark Menendez and Tommy Biffle each received two bonus points for their regular-season victories.
Here's a look at the field and the number of points they'll begin the postseason with:
1. Kevin VanDam: 205
2. Skeet Reese: 204
3. Alton Jones: 198
4. Kelly Jordon: 182
5. Todd Faircloth: 180
6. Randy Howell: 180
7. Tommy Biffle: 180
8. Mark Menendez: 180
9. Gary Klein: 179
10. Cliff Pace: 177
11. Mike Iaconelli: 175
12. Gerald Swindle: 174
“Everybody’s talking about Skeet and I making it so close because the last couple of years we fought it out to the end," said VanDam, the reigning and four-time AOY. "But the other 10 guys in this are just as able to win it as we are, and that’s the thing about it that’s so much different. This right here is going to be a shootout.
"These guys are the best anglers in the world. You look at the field and they’re all guys with a lot of wins, a lot of Classics, a lot of AOY titles. It’s going to be awesome.”
The inaugural Toyota Trucks Championship Week kicks off with the Trophy Chase, set for Sept. 12-13 on Lake Jordan out of Wetumpka, Ala. The finale, the Evan Williams Bourbon Trophy Triumph, is slated for Sept. 17-18 on the Alabama River out of Montgomery.
Biffle, who finished 8th at Oneida, and Swindle (9th) both moved into the Top 12 in the points at the final event. They bumped out Aaron Martens (93rd) and Kevin Short (81st).
The AOY will receive $200,000 out of the $785,000 postseason purse.
