The Bassmaster Southern Tour regular season recently concluded at Georgia's Lake Lanier. Ryan Coleman of Flowery Branch, Ga. won the event and details of his winning pattern will be posted soon.
The three anglers who finished highest in the Southern Tour points each received berths in the 2007 Bassmaster Classic. Those anglers are:
- James Niggemeyer (Lindale, Texas)
- Tom Hamlin (Lizella, Ga.)
- Boyd Duckett (Demopolis, Ala.)
"This has been a dream of mine since I started competitive fishing," Niggemeyer said of making the Classic. "I'm truly elated at the thought. Making a living at professional bass fishing is something I've always wanted. My goal this year was to qualify for the Elite Series, and now I've made the Classic."
Hamlin is the only one of the three qualifiers who's fished the Classic before. His first trip was in 2003. "The average fisherman likes to see an average Joe like me do well," he said. "My personal goal was to make the Classic and compete against the world's best. To compete against those guys will be a thrill."
Duckett said of his Classic berth: "This is what I fished for all season. The Classic is an unusual way to start off my season in the Elite Series, but I'm ready."
The Top 5 in the points each received an invitation to fish the 2007 Bassmaster Elite Series. In addition to Niggemeyer, Hamlin and Duckett, Cliff Pace and Terry Scroggins (both current Elite Series pros) received invitations to fish next year's Elite Series.
> The 6th- through 25-place points finishers may compete in the wildcard qualifier (Nov. 16–18), where they will be joined by top Northern Tour finishers. The Top 10 finishers at the qualifier receive Elite Series tour cards.
> To read a previous feature about Niggemeyer, click here to visit BassFanArmy.com.
