FLW announced Wednesday it has reached an exclusive licensing agreement with Jimmy Ashlock of Treviso, Italy, to begin sanctioning FLW bass tournaments in Italy, creating a pathway for Italian anglers to possibly qualify for the Forrest Wood Cup.
The agreement was signed by FLW President of Operations Kathy Fennel and Ashlock, CEO and president of FLW Italy.
“We are really excited to become FLW partners and believe that we have a tremendous opportunity to grow the sport of bass fishing in Italy,” Ashlock said in a release announcing the partnership. “The FLW international sanctioning program is the best program for anglers worldwide, and our goal is to work collaboratively to grow the global FLW brand and help to advance bass fishing as a worldwide sport.”
Ashlock will operate a series of FLW tournaments from which anglers, who are citizens of the host country, can advance to the International Division at the Costa FLW Series Championship beginning in 2018. Two FLW Italy anglers will compete in the Costa Championship as pros, with FLW providing Ranger boats for them to use, and two anglers will compete as co-anglers.
The highest finishing pro from the International Division at the 2018 Costa FLW Series Championship will advance to the 2019 Forrest Wood Cup. FLW already has sanctioning agreements with tournament organizers in Canada, South Korea, China, Mexico and South Africa.
"We are excited to add Italy to the growing list of countries that are now offering FLW tournaments," says Fennel. "The international expansion of FLW has flourished over the last three years, and we are proud to announce our latest addition on the eve of the 2017 Costa FLW Series Championship, which will showcase international anglers from all over the world. We look forward to the talented Italian anglers joining the competition in 2018.”
