You can bet the next time a tournament launches onto Chesapeake Bay, there'll be more than a few boats somewhere out in no man's land.
That's because Nate Wellman crushed big largemouths out there, and in so doing, reversed decades of thinking at this oft-visited tidal fishery.
Usually, shoreline docks and grass and wood are the typical order of the day at the Chesapeake. Wellman did some of that, but he snared 5- and 6-pounders off tiny spots out in the middle of the bay and utterly dominated the Bassmaster Northern Open. And his 22-15 final-day sack will go down in history as one of the most stunning ever caught at this level.
That final day capped a storybook week for the FLW Tour pro. It's always been his dream to fish the BASS tour, and he traveled to the Chesapeake with a single goal: Qualify to fish the 2011 Bassmaster Elite Series.
The win moved him up from 10th to 3rd in the final Northern Open points and paid him $27,000 (the field was about half full). He just barely missed a Bassmaster Classic spot, but that's okay, according to him, because he's officially in the Elite Series.
"To be honest, I came in at 10th in the points, and I never really expected to make the Classic – there were too many good fishermen ahead of me," he said. "Trust me, it would be really amazing to make the Classic, but that was never really in my mind. I knew I had to win to have even the slightest chance, and even then it was a longshot.
"I've already fished the FLW Tour for five seasons, I fished the (FLW) Series, the (Bassmaster) Opens – this is how I make my living, traveling and competing and guiding some in the off-season," he added. "It's been a dream of mine since I was 8 or 9 years old to fish the Bassmasters. I wouldn't pass up the Elite Series for the world. I'll go broke if I have to, but you just can't not do it."
He noted that his choice to move to the Elite Series and forego the FLW Tour is simply personal preference. He's always wanted to compete against Kevin VanDam, who lives about an hour and half from his Newaygo, Mich. home. And he grew up in the Nixon era of BASS and the circuit is "just where (he's) always wanted to be."
"It's where my heart is," he said. "I promised my dad at a young age – I said, 'Dad, you'll see me onstage at the Bassmasters before you die.' Now it's become a reality. I didn't dream about fishing the Forrest Wood Cup. I dreamed about the Classic. Everybody my age (27) and older, when we were getting started, we all had that same dream."
With the goal of the Elite Series in mind, he decided to practice more for the Chesapeake than he had for any other tournament he's ever fished.
Here's how he practiced, then smoked the field.
Practice
Wellman's total Open practice encompassed 8 days. Over the first 4 days, he caught just four keepers. He tried looking in some rivers, flipping a jig and slow-rolling a spinnerbait – all traditional strategies at the Chesapeake. Nothing really worked.
He then rethought things. Through online research he knew that most tournaments there go out of Anchor Marine in the northeast corner, so he figured that area would have the best concentration of fish. Plus, he heard that an abnormally dry summer had pushed the saltline way up. It all added up to a decision to stay close to the launch and hope for 10 to 12, perhaps 13 pounds a day to make the Elites.
He had some luck over the next 2 days on shoreline cover near the launch, but knew it would become a community hole, so he changed tactics again. He waited for most of the field to launch, then started to idle and graph open water out in the bay in a "northern-style approach."
"I have five electronics units on my boat so I just idled for hours and hours, from right outside the off-limits to miles away," he said. "I zigzagged and graphed and side-scanned and actually found 17 spots out there. Most were individual rocks – little gravel spots – and I found what was to become my key spot, which was a log that was maybe 10 to 12 feet long. It looked sawed – there was no stump – but right in the middle there were a couple of branches, and right next to those branches were a couple of rocks."
That "spot on the spot" he said was no bigger than the motor on his boat. He never made a cast there in practice, but did fish one of the other open-water spots – a boulder that produced a 2 1/2-pounder in 10 minutes. That fish gave him the confidence to fish out there.
And when 3:00 came during each of the final 2 practice days, he headed back to shore to make sure nobody saw him scouting out there.
Day 1
> Day 1: 5, 18-06 (1st)
Wellman pulled out from launch, started on an open-water boulder and within 10 minutes hooked and lost a 3 1/2-pounder. Then he went to his log and caught a 5-pounder. He couldn't connect for a while, and the tide reached halfway to low, so he went and fished a stretch of docks. Almost immediately he lost a 3-pounder, but soon boated a 6-pounder off the final dock in that stretch.
His day was "like a roller-coaster of emotions – up, down, up, down all day," he said.
From there, he went on a quest to catch three keepers of any size. He moved up the Susquehanna to try for smallmouths and caught a 13-incher, but "the fishing seemed off," he noted, so he pulled back down into the bay. The tide was now starting to come back up, so he went to a grassline, picked up a trick worm and caught a 5-pounder.
There was now an hour left and he had four fish in the box, so he headed back offshore and quickly caught a 14-incher. His 18 1/2 pounds gave him the lead.
He began to figure out that his offshore stuff was best when the tide was down. The fish pulled off the flats and back to that cover, he thought. And he felt that if he was going to win the event, he'd "have to do it out there."
Wellman said his lifelong dream is to fish the Bassmasters, and he'll get that chance next year with the Elite Series.
Day 2
> Day 2: 5, 11-12 (1st)
When Wellman pulled offshore the second morning, the tide was not only high, but higher than it'd been all week. He didn't catch any out there and then headed for the bank. He didn't catch any at the bank either.
"Then the tide was sucking out, and I caught three on my middle docks," he said. "They were just 2-pounders. I decided to go offshore again, instead of to the grassline. I pulled up on that log and in 10 casts caught two more keepers. I had a limit, so I was excited and feeling good. I stuck with it and with 10 minutes to go I caught my biggest of the day at 3 1/4 pounds. That culled out a 12-incher."
He held the lead by a pound and a half with 1 day left.
Day 3
> Day 3: 5, 22-15
> Total = 15, 53-01
Tidal conditions were dramatically different the final morning.
Wellman noted: "High tide was an hour after takeoff. Looking out there, I said, 'This water's low – this might be good.' I was going to start on my docks, but when I saw that, I pulled right out to that log and caught a 4-pounder. It turned out to be amazing. I had a limit by 9:30 that was 17 or 18 pounds. I couldn't believe it. I couldn't comprehend what was going on. They say when it's your day, the stars just line up. They're right. It was just my day."
He easily had the tournament won, so after fishing for a little while he headed to a point on the other side of the bay to help his co-angler. Wellman told his co-angler to cast to some rocks with his rod, while he fished 30 or 40 feet to the side with a Buckeye Spot Remover.
Wellman felt some rocks and, to his amazement, caught a 5-pounder. He sat down for several minutes to let his co-angler fish, then tried again and caught a 6-pounder.
"I didn't even know what to do at that point," Wellman noted. "It was 11:30 and I had 22 pounds of fish."
He helped his co-angler for several more hours then toted his giant sack across the stage.
"Sitting in the (bag) line, I knew I'd won the tournament. I was pretty calm at first. But when it was my turn and I grabbed the fish and started walking up there, my heart was pumping and racing. And I saw the weight before they announced it – 22-15 – and I was just starstruck. My emotions got the best of me, because at that point it was official."
Winning Pattern Notes
Wellman said the depth of his offshore spots depended on tide, but they were generally 5 to 7 feet deep. The log, at low tide, was about 5 1/2 feet deep.
Even with GPS, he had difficulty re-finding the spots. He'd GPS where to put his boat, then sink his dual PowerPoles and start to cast to find the sweetspot.
The final day, he said about 12 boats were watching him. At the weigh-in, numerous locals congratulated him and said they never thought about looking out there for fish.
The biggest key, he noted, was he had to soak the bait offshore and delay the hookset. He thinks the saltwater incursion made the largemouths lethargic. The bites felt like bluegill bites, "tap-tap-tap" he said, and he'd wait 7 to 10 seconds to set the hook.
Winning Gear Notes
Wellman's best bait all 3 days was a Texas-rigged Zoom Brush Hog, although he caught the two biggest fish the final day with a 3/16-ounce Buckeye Spot Remover tipped with a Zoom Finesse worm (black/blue-flake). He also caught a few fish on a Texas-rigged Zoom Trick worm (Bama bug).
> Brush hog Gear: 7' medium-heavy Daiwa rod, Shimano Stradic spinning reel, 10-pound Berkley FireLine Crystal, 12-pound Berkley Trilene 100% fluorocarbon leader (tied with blood knot), 3/0 wide-gap hook, 3/16-ounce tungsten weight (not pegged), Zoom Tiny Brush Hog (black/blue-flake).
The Bottom Line
Much of the tackle referenced above is available at the BassFan Store. To browse the selection, click here.
Final Top 30 Standings
> Field = 106 boats
1. Nate Wellman -- Newaygo, Mich. -- 15, 53-01 -- 315 -- $27,257
Day 1: 5, 18-06 -- Day 2: 5, 11-12 -- Day 3: 5, 22-15
2. Kyle Walling -- Fisherville, Ky. -- 11, 37-14 -- 295 -- $12,114
Day 1: 5, 16-15 -- Day 2: 2, 5-07 -- Day 3: 4, 15-08
3. Pat Golden -- High Point, N.C. -- 15 34-12 -- 290 -- $8,480
Day 1: 5, 7-15 -- Day 2: 5, 13-04 -- Day 3: 5, 13-09
4. Darin Doll -- York, Pa. -- 14, 34-04 -- 285 -- $6,057
Day 1: 5, 12-07 -- Day 2: 5, 13-07 -- Day 3: 4, 8-06
5. Donald Haskins -- Rosedale, Md. -- 13, 32-12 -- 280 -- $5,451
Day 1: 5, 14-10 -- Day 2: 4, 7-03 -- Day 3: 4, 10-15
6. Tracy Adams -- Wilkesboro, N.C. -- 14, 32-08 -- 276 -- $4,846
Day 1: 5, 11-05 -- Day 2: 4, 10-07 -- Day 3: 5, 10-12
7. Chris Price -- Church Hill, Md. -- 13, 30-13 -- 272 -- $4,240
Day 1: 5, 13-00 -- Day 2: 5, 11-07 -- Day 3: 3, 6-06
8. George Acord -- Lancaster, Pa. -- 13, 30-11 -- 268 -- $3,634
Day 1: 4, 10-04 -- Day 2: 4, 9-14 -- Day 3: 5, 10-09
9. Daniel Rodriguez -- Monkton, Md. -- 12, 30-05 -- 264 -- $3,029
Day 1: 5, 10-08 -- Day 2: 2, 6-07 -- Day 3: 5, 13-06
10. Ben Parker -- Springville, Tenn. -- 12, 29-14 -- 260 -- $2,726
Day 1: 5, 15-02 -- Day 2: 3, 5-11 -- Day 3: 4, 9-01
11. David Walker -- Sevierville, Tenn. -- 13, 29-11 -- 257 -- $2,423
Day 1: 3, 6-15 -- Day 2: 5, 11-06 -- Day 3: 5, 11-06
12. Mark Schafer -- Williamstown, N.J. -- 11, 29-02 -- 254 -- $2,120
Day 1: 1, 2-13 -- Day 2: 5, 14-10 -- Day 3: 5, 11-11
13. Pete Gluszek -- Mount Laurel, N.J. -- 10, 29-02 -- 251 -- $1,817
Day 1: 5, 14-03 -- Day 2: 2, 6-04 -- Day 3: 3, 8-11
14. Brian Hensley -- Edwardsburg, Mich. -- 13, 28-13 -- 248 -- $1,514
Day 1: 5, 13-14 -- Day 2: 5, 11-07 -- Day 3: 3, 3-08
15. Matt Lovallo -- Spring Mills, Pa. -- 12, 27-00 -- 245 -- $1,363
Day 1: 5, 12-13 -- Day 2: 3, 7-04 -- Day 3: 4, 6-15
16. Joe Hunt -- Lincoln University, Pa -- 9 26-10 -- 243 -- $1,211
Day 1: 5, 15-07 -- Day 2: 3, 8-08 -- Day 3: 1, 2-11
17. Travis Manson -- Green Bay, Wisc. -- 10 26-03 -- 241 -- $1,151
Day 1: 5, 12-09 -- Day 2: 2, 5-14 -- Day 3: 3, 7-12
18. Jack Rinkers -- Swarthmore, Pa. -- 12, 25-15 -- 239 -- $1,090
Day 1: 2, 5-06 -- Day 2: 5, 11-06 -- Day 3: 5, 9-03
19. J Todd Tucker -- Moultrie, Ga. -- 11, 25-09 -- 237 -- $1,030
Day 1: 5, 13-06 -- Day 2: 3, 6-04 -- Day 3: 3, 5-15
20. Joe Balog -- Harrison Township, Mic -- 9, 24-02 -- 235 -- $969
Day 1: 1, 1-05 -- Day 2: 5, 17-11 -- Day 3: 3, 5-02
21. Randy Howell -- Springville, Ala. -- 7, 24-01 -- 233 -- $878
Day 1: 2, 5-13 -- Day 2: 4, 13-15 -- Day 3: 1, 4-05
22. Michael Simonton -- Fremont, Ohio -- 10, 23-15 -- 231 -- $848
Day 1: 3, 6-08 -- Day 2: 5, 11-10 -- Day 3: 2, 5-13
23. Chris Lane -- Guntersville, Ala. -- 11, 23-04 -- 229 -- $818
Day 1: 5, 10-07 -- Day 2: 3, 7-04 -- Day 3: 3, 5-09
24. Michael Iaconelli -- Pitts Grove, N.J. -- 11, 23-03 -- 227 -- $787
Day 1: 5, 12-14 -- Day 2: 2, 5-03 -- Day 3: 4, 5-02
25. Scott Rook -- Little Rock, Ark. -- 11, 22-15 -- 225 -- $757
Day 1: 5, 9-09 -- Day 2: 4, 7-11 -- Day 3: 2, 5-11
26. Gregory Dipalma -- Millville, N.J. -- 11 22-13 -- 223 -- $727
Day 1: 5, 12-12 -- Day 2: 3, 4-14 -- Day 3: 3, 5-03
27. Luke Shrader -- Moorestown, N.J. -- 10, 20-07 -- 221 -- $697
Day 1: 3, 5-07 -- Day 2: 5, 11-04 -- Day 3: 2, 3-12
28. James Niggemeyer -- Van, Texas -- 8, 19-04 -- 219 -- $666
Day 1: 5, 11-09 -- Day 2: 2, 5-03 -- Day 3: 1, 2-08
29. Michael Woolley -- West Bloomfield, Mich. 9 -- 19-03 -- 217 -- $636
Day 1: 5, 11-05 -- Day 2: 3, 6-00 -- Day 3: 1, 1-14
30. Ray Brazier -- Lawrenceburg, Tenn. -- 6, 16-11 -- 215 -- $606
Day 1: 5, 12-01 -- Day 2: 1, 4-10 -- Day 3: 0, 0-00
The following anglers didn't make the cut and didn't fish day 3:
31. Allan Engelmeyer -- Severn, Md. -- 7, 16-10 -- 213 -- $303.00
Day 1: 4, 9-05 -- Day 2: 3, 7-05
32. Tim Dafick -- Freehold, N.J. -- 7, 16-08 -- 211 -- $303.00
Day 1: 5, 11-00 -- Day 2: 2, 5-08
33. Chris Johnson -- Hurricane, W.Va. -- 6, 16-07 -- 209 -- $303.00
Day 1: 5, 14-09 -- Day 2: 1, 1-14
34. David Reault -- Livonia, Mich. -- 7, 16-00 -- 207 -- $303.00
Day 1: 5, 12-14 -- Day 2: 2, 3-02
35. John Shumate -- Randallstown, Md. -- 7, 15-14 -- 205 -- $303.00
Day 1: 5, 10-15 -- Day 2: 2, 4-15
36. Teddy Carr -- Locust Grove, Va. -- 6, 15-14 -- 203 -- $303.00
Day 1: 2, 4-09 -- Day 2: 4, 11-05
37. Adrian Avena -- Vineland, N.J. -- 7, 14-09 -- 201 -- $303.00
Day 1: 5, 11-06 -- Day 2: 2, 3-03
38. David Dudley -- Dublin, Ohio -- 5, 13-13 -- 199 -- $303.00
Day 1: 4, 10-03 -- Day 2: 1, 3-10
39. Kyle Kempkers -- Hamilton, Mich. -- 5, 13-12 -- 197 -- $303.00
Day 1: 2, 8-05 -- Day 2: 3, 5-07
40. Todd Schmitz -- Goshen, Ind. -- 6, 13-11 -- 195 -- $303.00
Day 1: 2, 3-02 -- Day 2: 4, 10-09
41. Ryan Said -- Wixom, Mich. -- 6, 13-11 -- 193 -- $303.00
Day 1: 2, 5-06 -- Day 2: 4, 8-05
42. Joseph Thompson -- Ridley Park, Pa. -- 6, 13-09 -- 191 -- $303.00
Day 1: 5, 11-01 -- Day 2: 1, 2-08
43. Craig Townsend -- Westampton, N.J. -- 4, 13-05 -- 189 -- $303.00
Day 1: 4, 13-05 -- Day 2: 0, 0-00
44. Mike Haggerty -- Hendersonville, Tenn. -- 6, 13-02 -- 187 -- $303.00
Day 1: 5, 9-11 -- Day 2: 1, 3-07
45. Casey Lyon -- Eden, Vt. -- 4, 12-15 -- 185 -- $303.00
Day 1: 3, 10-09 -- Day 2: 1, 2-06
46. Al Farace -- Cockeysville, Md. -- 7, 12-13 -- 183 -- $303.00
Day 1: 5, 9-04 -- Day 2: 2, 3-09
47. Steve Schubert -- Rayland, Ohio -- 3, 12-02 -- 181 -- $303.00
Day 1: 2, 8-04 -- Day 2: 1, 3-14
48. John Hempel -- Brownstown, Mich. -- 6, 12-00 -- 179 -- $303.00
Day 1: 2, 3-13 -- Day 2: 4, 8-03
49. Rick Ash -- Pottstown, Pa. -- 5, 12-00 -- 177 -- $303.00
Day 1: 4, 10-15 -- Day 2: 1, 1-01
50. John Vanore -- Mullica Hill, N.J. -- 6, 11-13 -- 175 -- $303.00
Day 1: 5, 10-00 -- Day 2: 1, 1-13
51. Mark Hicks -- Glouster, Ohio -- 4, 11-11 -- 173
Day 1: 4, 11-11 -- Day 2: 0, 0-00
52. Robert Cook -- Willis, Mich. -- 4, 11-10 -- 171
Day 1: 2, 4-00 -- Day 2: 2, 7-10
53. Bryan Schmitt -- Deale, Md. -- 5, 11-08 -- 169
Day 1: 4, 9-11 -- Day 2: 1, 1-13
54. Russell Colwell -- Baltimore, Md. -- 4, 11-08 -- 167
Day 1: 2, 7-12 -- Day 2: 2, 3-12
55. Derek Jones -- Chicago, Ill. -- 5, 11-04 -- 165
Day 1: 3, 7-09 -- Day 2: 2, 3-11
56. Trevor Jancasz -- White Pigeon, Mich. -- 6, 11-02 -- 163
Day 1: 3, 6-01 -- Day 2: 3, 5-01
57. Kevin Hann -- Newmanstown, Pa. -- 4, 11-00 -- 161
Day 1: 3, 9-05 -- Day 2: 1, 1-11
58. Rick Anderson -- Dover, Pa. -- 6, 10-15 -- 159
Day 1: 3, 6-00 -- Day 2: 3, 4-15
59. Shawn Skobel -- Uniontown, Pa. -- 5, 10-14 -- 157
Day 1: 0, 0-00 -- Day 2: 5, 10-14
60. Marc Kinnelly -- Frederick, Md. -- 4, 10-08 -- 155
Day 1: 3, 6-12 -- Day 2: 1, 3-12
61. James Castillo -- Grandview, Wash. -- 9, 9-15 -- 153
Day 1: 5, 6-06 -- Day 2: 4, 3-09
62. Paul Pagnato -- Vienna, Va. -- 3, 9-06 -- 151
Day 1: 2, 6-04 -- Day 2: 1, 3-02
63. Andy Starner -- Dover, Pa. -- 6, 9-00 -- 149
Day 1: 3, 4-13 -- Day 2: 3, 4-03
64. Chip Harrison -- Bremen, Ind. -- 3, 8-15 -- 147
Day 1: 0, 0-00 -- Day 2: 3, 8-15
65. Jason Knapp -- Uniontown, Pa. -- 5, 8-12 -- 145
Day 1: 5, 8-12 -- Day 2: 0, 0-00
66. Brian Kanke -- Spring, Texas -- 5, 8-06 -- 143
Day 1: 2, 4-00 -- Day 2: 3, 4-06
67. Ben Bilott -- Larimer, Pa. -- 3, 8-03 -- 141
Day 1: 1, 4-02 -- Day 2: 2, 4-01
68. Jason Quinn -- Lake Wylie, S.C. -- 3, 8-02 -- 139
Day 1: 3, 8-02 -- Day 2: 0, 0-00
69. Jeremy Starks -- Scott Depot, W.Va. -- 4, 7-06 -- 137
Day 1: 2, 3-07 -- Day 2: 2, 3-15
70. Chad Pipkens -- Holt, Mich. -- 3, 7-02 -- 135
Day 1: 2, 4-11 -- Day 2: 1, 2-07
71. Christopher Swearer -- Pottstown, Pa. -- 3, 7-02 -- 133
Day 1: 1, 3-03 -- Day 2: 2, 3-15
72. Charlie Ingram -- Santa Fe, Tenn. -- 4, 6-11 -- 131
Day 1: 3, 3-10 -- Day 2: 1, 3-01
73. Trevor Knight -- Magnolia, Del. -- 4, 6-08 -- 129
Day 1: 1, 1-10 -- Day 2: 3, 4-14
74. James Wilson -- Troy, N.Y. -- 2, 6-07 -- 127
Day 1: 2, 6-07 -- Day 2: 0, 0-00
75. Donald Wood -- Middletown, Del. -- 3, 6-04 -- 125
Day 1: 1, 1-10 -- Day 2: 2, 4-10
76. Josh Giran -- Elizabeth, Pa. -- 3, 6-04 -- 123
Day 1: 2, 4-08 -- Day 2: 1, 1-12
77. Nathan Kawlewski -- Newburgh, Ind. -- 2, 5-12 -- 121
Day 1: 0, 0-00 -- Day 2: 2, 5-12
78. Joseph Trinko -- Southern Pines, N.C. -- 2, 5-12 -- 119
Day 1: 1, 3-09 -- Day 2: 1, 2-03
79. Jimmy Kennedy -- Plainfield, Vt. -- 5, 5-07 -- 117
Day 1: 2, 2-11 -- Day 2: 3, 2-12
80. Joby Poster -- Saylorsburg, Pa. -- 3, 5-07 -- 115
Day 1: 3, 5-07 -- Day 2: 0, 0-00
81. Brian Ward -- Chesterfield, Mich. -- 2, 5-07 -- 113
Day 1: 1, 3-00 -- Day 2: 1, 2-07
82. Jim Jeff Townsend -- Philadelphia, Pa. -- 3, 5-05 -- 111
Day 1: 1, 2-06 -- Day 2: 2, 2-15
83. Todd Glover -- Orion, Mich. -- 2, 4-11 -- 109
Day 1: 0, 0-00 -- Day 2: 2, 4-11
84. Ron Plocek -- Liverpool, N.Y. -- 1, 4-08 -- 107
Day 1: 0, 0-00 -- Day 2: 1, 4-08
85. Robert Brody -- Avoca, Pa. -- 2, 4-05 -- 105
Day 1: 1, 1-15 -- Day 2: 1, 2-06
86. Rob Webster -- Janetville, Canada -- 1, 4-04 -- 103
Day 1: 1, 4-04 -- Day 2: 0, 0-00
87. Jerrod Lloyd -- Vineland, N.J. -- 4, 4-03 -- 101
Day 1: 4, 4-03 -- Day 2: 0, 0-00
88. Curtis Richardson -- Belleville, Canada -- 3, 4-00 -- 99
Day 1: 2, 3-00 -- Day 2: 1, 1-00
89. Randy Yarnall -- Womelsdorf, Pa. -- 3, 3-12 -- 97
Day 1: 2, 3-00 -- Day 2: 1, 0-12
90. Mike Kaminskas -- Jackson, N.J. -- 2, 3-11 -- 95
Day 1: 0, 0-00 -- Day 2: 2, 3-11
91. Emery Peine -- Newton, N.J. -- 2, 3-08 -- 93
Day 1: 0, 0-00 -- Day 2: 2, 3-08
92. Chad Rice -- Whiteford, Md. -- 2, 3-07 -- 91
Day 1: 2, 3-07 -- Day 2: 0, 0-00
93. Scott Sewell -- Baltimore, Md. -- 2, 3-05 -- 89
Day 1: 0, 0-00 -- Day 2: 2, 3-05
94. Frank Scalish -- Cleveland Heights, Ohi -- 2, 3-00 -- 87
Day 1: 2, 3-00 -- Day 2: 0, 0-00
95. Kevin Short -- Mayflower, Ark. -- 1, 2-12 -- 85
Day 1: 1, 2-12 -- Day 2: 0, 0-00
96. Andrew Upshaw -- Hemphill, Texas -- 2, 2-06 -- 83
Day 1: 1, 0-06 -- Day 2: 1, 2-00
97. Ish Monroe -- Hughson, Calif. -- 1, 2-06 -- 81
Day 1: 1, 2-06 -- Day 2: 0, 0-00
98. Randy Elliott -- Bowie, Md. -- 1, 2-03 -- 79
Day 1: 1, 2-03 -- Day 2: 0, 0-00
99. Kaku Usui -- Royal Oak, Mich. -- 1, 1-10 -- 77
Day 1: 0, 0-00 -- Day 2: 1, 1-10
100.Dylan Freeze -- Blanchester, Ohio -- 1, 1-02 -- 76
Day 1: 0, 0-00 -- Day 2: 1, 1-02
101.John Hansen -- Street, Md. -- 1, 0-13 -- 75
Day 1: 0, 0-00 -- Day 2: 1, 0-13
102.Lyle Atkins -- Culloden, W.Va. -- 0, 0-00 -- 0
Day 1: 0, 0-00 -- Day 2: 0, 0-00
102.Leon Dykas -- Torrington, Conn. -- 0, 0-00 -- 0
Day 1: 0, 0-00 -- Day 2: 0, 0-00
102.Brian O'neil -- Aberdeen, Md. -- 0, 0-00 -- 0
Day 1: 0, 0-00 -- Day 2: 0, 0-00
102.Duane Potter -- Cascade, Md. -- 0, 0-00 -- 0
Day 1: 0, 0-00 -- Day 2: 0, 0-00
102.Michael Randolph -- Austin, Texas -- 0, 0-00 -- 0
Day 1: 0, 0-00 -- Day 2: 0, 0-00
Final Northern Open Standings
1 Ryan Said -- Mich. -- 778
2 Tracy Adams -- N.C. -- 775
3 Nate Wellman -- Mich. -- 763
4 Travis Manson -- Wisc. -- 753
5 David Walker -- Tenn. -- 722
6 Randy Howell -- Ala. -- 671
7 Chip Harrison -- Ind. -- 658
8 Joe Balog -- Mich. -- 653
9 J Todd Tucker -- Ga. -- 652
10 Ben Parker -- Tenn. -- 648
11 Michael Simonton -- Ohio -- 645
11 Jeremy Starks -- W.Va. -- 645
13 Pat Golden -- N.C. -- 634
14 Casey Lyon -- Vt. -- 604
15 Jason Quinn -- S.C. -- 595
16 Kevin Short -- Ark. -- 587
17 Trevor Jancasz -- Mich. -- 572
18 Todd Schmitz -- Ind. -- 565
19 Adrian Avena -- N.J. -- 561
20 Jack Rinkers -- Pa. -- 551
21 Ish Monroe -- Calif. -- 549
22 Chad Pipkens -- Mich. -- 542
23 Michael Woolley -- Mich. -- 524
24 Scott Rook -- Ark. -- 522
25 Joseph Thompson -- Pa. -- 517
26 Brian Hensley -- Mich. -- 509
27 Jason Knapp -- Pa. -- 499
28 Charlie Ingram -- Tenn. -- 481
29 Shawn Skobel -- Pa. -- 475
30 James Niggemeyer -- Texas -- 470
31 Donald Haskins -- Md. -- 467
31 Mike Haggerty -- Tenn. -- 467
33 Craig Townsend -- N.J. -- 439
34 David Dudley -- Ohio -- 437
35 Timmy Horton -- Ala. -- 428
36 Chris Lane -- Ala. -- 427
37 Trevor Knight -- Del. -- 423
38 David Reault -- Mich. -- 422
39 Gregory Dipalma -- N.J. -- 414
40 Steve Schubert -- Ohio -- 398
41 John Hempel -- Mich. -- 389
42 Nathan Kawlewski -- Ind. -- 386
43 Koby Kreiger -- Fla. -- 382
44 Derek Jones -- Ill. -- 376
45 Gary Gaussiran -- Canada -- 366
46 Gerald Swindle -- Ala. -- 364
47 Michael Iaconelli -- N.J. -- 358
48 Brian Ward -- Mich. -- 357
49 Ray Brazier -- Tenn. -- 339
50 Todd Glover -- Mich. -- 338
50 Brandon Coulter -- Tenn. -- 338
50 Al Farace -- Md. -- 338
53 George Acord -- Pa. -- 337
54 Casey Ashley -- S.C. -- 334
55 Pete Gluszek -- N.J. -- 330
55 Jimmy Kennedy -- Vt. -- 330
57 James Castillo -- Ala. -- 324
58 Kyle Kempkers -- Mich. -- 321
59 Teddy Carr -- Va. -- 320
60 Mark Schafer -- N.J. -- 318
61 Troy Sitar -- Mich. -- 314
62 Luke Shrader -- N.J. -- 312
63 Mike McClelland -- Ark. -- 310
63 Mark Hicks -- Ohio -- 310
63 Dave Wolak -- N.C. -- 310
66 Dave Mansue -- Texas -- 308
67 Kyle Walling -- Ky. -- 302
68 David Hasty -- Ohio -- 300
69 Scott Dobson -- Mich. -- 299
70 Chris Sumansky -- Pa. -- 296
71 Matt Greenblatt -- Fla. -- 292
72 Matthew Sphar -- N.Y. -- 291
73 Art Ferguson -- Mich. -- 285
73 Darin Doll -- Pa. -- 285
75 Paul Pagnato -- Va. -- 282
76 Chris Johnson -- W.Va. -- 272
76 Jared Rhode -- Ohio -- 272
76 Chris Price -- Md. -- 272
79 Kotaro Kiriyama -- Ala. -- 270
80 John Zubkoff -- Mich. -- 268
81 Hugh Crumpler -- Fla. -- 264
81 Daniel Rodriguez -- Md. -- 264
83 Michael Trombly -- Ohio -- 257
84 Mike Elkins -- Mich. -- 256
84 Rob Webster -- Canada -- 256
86 Todd Cole -- N.Y. -- 252
87 Alvin Shaw -- N.C. -- 250
88 Brian Bylotas -- Pa. -- 248
89 Matt Lovallo -- Pa. -- 245
90 Joe Hunt -- Pa. -- 243
91 Mike Wolfenden -- R.I. -- 241
92 Chris King -- Ohio -- 240
92 Jason Root -- Ohio -- 240
94 Donald Hewkin -- Ill. -- 239
95 Thomas Lavictoire -- Vt. -- 237
95 Michael Weaver -- Ind. -- 237
97 Curtis Richardson -- Canada -- 236
98 Brian Cook -- Ohio -- 235
99 Preston Johnson -- Wisc. -- 234
100 Bryan Coates -- Ohio -- 233
101 Jamey Way -- N.C. -- 231
102 Gaspare Costabile -- Canada -- 227
103 Leo Reiter -- Ind. -- 224
104 Kaku Usui -- Mich. -- 223
104 Brian Gates -- Vt. -- 223
104 Bryan Plenzler -- Ohio -- 223
107 Charlie Hartley -- Ohio -- 221
107 Robert Cook -- Mich. -- 221
107 Mark Desjardin -- Maine -- 221
107 Gerald Gostenik -- Mich. -- 221
111 Bill Day -- Ky. -- 219
111 David Mccrone -- Minn. -- 219
113 John Shumate -- Md. -- 218
114 Brian Kanke -- Texas -- 217
115 Brent Ehrler -- Calif. -- 215
116 Allan Engelmeyer -- Md. -- 213
117 TOMMY WILLIAMS -- Ky. -- 211
117 Tim Dafick -- N.J. -- 211
119 Marty Robinson -- S.C. -- 209
120 Andrew Upshaw -- Texas -- 207
120 Jeff Miller -- Ill. -- 207
122 Jonathon Vandam -- Mich. -- 205
123 Mark Burgess -- Mass. -- 203
124 Jerry Williams -- Ark. -- 199
125 Chad Morgenthaler -- Ill. -- 196
126 Rick Ash -- Pa. -- 194
127 Todd Koehler -- Mich. -- 193
128 Ryan Rogers -- Canada -- 190
129 Todd Auten -- S.C. -- 187
129 Chris Baumgardner -- N.C. -- 187
131 Scott Patton -- Ky. -- 185
131 Ben Bilott -- Pa. -- 185
131 Joby Poster -- Pa. -- 185
131 Josh Myers -- Canada -- 185
135 Frank Scalish -- Ohio -- 182
136 Doug Kirkbride -- N.Y. -- 179
137 John Vanore -- N.J. -- 175
138 Josh Giran -- Pa. -- 174
139 Luke Gritter -- Mich. -- 172
140 J Judd -- Vt. -- 171
140 Bobby Lane -- Fla. -- 171
142 Jason Ober -- Pa. -- 169
142 Bryan Schmitt -- Md. -- 169
144 Joseph Trinko -- N.C. -- 168
145 Russell Colwell -- Md. -- 167
146 Erhardt Tulgestka -- Mich. -- 165
147 Dana Perrotte -- Vt. -- 163
148 Keith Williams -- Ark. -- 161
148 Kevin Hann -- Pa. -- 161
150 Rick Anderson -- Pa. -- 159
151 Chris Jackson -- Ala. -- 158
152 Marc Kinnelly -- Md. -- 155
153 Chris Noffsinger -- Mich. -- 150
154 Andy Starner -- Pa. -- 149
155 Bernie Schultz -- Fla. -- 145
156 Douglas Wilson -- Vt. -- 141
157 Matt Elkins -- Ohio -- 139
158 Mike Weiss -- Wisc. -- 137
158 Mark Hickory -- Vt. -- 137
158 Todd Hatch -- Canada -- 137
161 Ken Phillips -- Calif. -- 135
162 Ron Plocek -- N.Y. -- 134
163 Lance Spencer -- Mich. -- 133
163 Christopher Swearer -- Pa. -- 133
165 Miles Johnson -- Ohio -- 129
166 Marcos Malucelli -- S.C. -- 127
166 James Wilson -- N.Y. -- 127
168 Rodney Sorrell -- N.C. -- 125
168 Emery Peine -- N.J. -- 125
168 Donald Wood -- Del. -- 125
171 Jason Dudek -- Minn. -- 123
171 Skip Sjobeck -- Vt. -- 123
173 Nick Gainey -- S.C. -- 121
174 Dylan Freeze -- Ohio -- 118
175 Jim Tedesco -- Canada -- 116
176 William Roe -- Mass. -- 115
177 Nick Mumbower -- Ind. -- 112
178 Jim Jeff Townsend -- Pa. -- 111
179 Bill Rea -- Ohio -- 108
180 Jeremy Prouty -- Fla. -- 107
180 Brian Metry -- Mich. -- 107
182 Skip Johnson -- Mich. -- 105
182 Robert Brody -- Pa. -- 105
184 Mike Kaminskas -- N.J. -- 104
185 Greg Pugh -- Ala. -- 102
186 Stetson Blaylock -- Ark. -- 101
186 Jerrod Lloyd -- N.J. -- 101
188 Bill Spence -- Vt. -- 99
189 Larry Materia -- N.J. -- 97
189 Randy Yarnall -- Pa. -- 97
191 James Jeffries -- N.Y. -- 93
192 John Devries -- Ind. -- 91
192 Chad Rice -- Md. -- 91
194 Jon Bondy -- Canada -- 89
194 Mark Peiser -- Ind. -- 89
194 Scott Sewell -- Md. -- 89
197 Jack Mumbower -- Ind. -- 88
198 Michael Kopcok -- Canada -- 87
199 Jeffrey Randall -- N.Y. -- 83
200 Dennis Price -- Ill. -- 81
201 Randy Elliott -- Md. -- 79
202 Mike Oberski -- Mich. -- 77
203 Larry Butler -- Vt. -- 76
203 Brian Jackson -- Ill. -- 76
205 James Moorey -- Mass. -- 75
205 John Hansen -- Md. -- 75
207 Thomas Waltz -- Vt. -- 72
208 Marty Hottot -- Canada -- 71
209 Ed Spicker -- Ohio -- 70
209 William Lortz -- N.Y. -- 70
211 Tom Spangler -- Tenn. -- 68
212 Leon Dykas -- Conn. -- 67
213 Wayne Macklin -- Mich. -- 66
214 Mike Leblanc -- Vt. -- 63
215 Tony DeFilippo -- Mich. -- 62
216 Kevin Broadwood -- Canada -- 61
217 Thomas Kiefer -- Mich. -- 58
218 Mike Emrich -- Canada -- 57
219 Steve York -- Mich. -- 56
220 JAYSON TIEDEMAN -- Mich. -- 54
221 Steve Lucarelli -- N.H. -- 53
222 Mike Nolan -- Mich. -- 52
223 Jim Tutt -- Texas -- 51
223 Jess Caraballo -- Conn. -- 51
225 Benjamin Felton -- Mich. -- 49
226 Brian Easler -- S.C. -- 47
226 Jeff Stoner -- Pa. -- 47
228 Matt Arey -- N.C. -- 46
228 Peter Savoia -- Canada -- 46
230 Jim Dillard -- Ark. -- 45
230 Mark Goetsch -- Mich. -- 45
232 Andrew Dick -- Del. -- 44
233 Brandon Beale -- Mich. -- 43
234 Frank Novock -- Mich. -- 41
235 Bruce Bingenheimer -- N.Y. -- 40
235 Kent Hart -- Mich. -- 40
237 Eric Miller -- N.Y. -- 38
237 Kevin Long -- Fla. -- 38
239 David Ottman -- N.Y. -- 35
239 Tommy Robinson -- Mich. -- 35
241 Stu Martel -- Ill. -- 33
242 Chad Wentzell -- Canada -- 30
243 George Martin -- N.Y. -- 28
243 Jim Turner -- Ind. -- 28
245 Henry Stone -- N.Y. -- 27
246 Callum Johnson -- Canada -- 25
247 Roger Zalucky -- N.Y. -- 24
247 Brad Wall -- Ohio -- 24
249 Eric Smith -- Mich. -- 23
250 Thomas Beale -- Mich. -- 21
251 Randy Crawford -- Ohio -- 20
252 Louis Iribarren -- N.Y. -- 19
252 Douglas Arter -- Mich. -- 19
254 Lyle Atkins -- W.Va. -- 16
255 William Johnson -- Va. -- 15
256 Kyle Sommer -- Ind. -- 13
257 Steve Oleksyn -- N.Y. -- 12
258 Darrin Schwenkbeck -- N.Y. -- 10
258 John Lyson -- Mich. -- 10
260 Ken Lang -- Wisc. -- 7
261 Kurt Johns -- Pa. -- 6
262 Louis Consoli -- Pa. -- 4
262 Sam Dewey -- Ohio -- 4
264 Denis Lavoie -- Canada -- 3
265 Terry Baksay -- Conn. -- 2
266 Fred Roumbanis -- Okla. -- 0
266 Will Jefferies -- Utah -- 0
266 Tim Aldrich -- Mass. -- 0
266 Arnie Lane -- Fla. -- 0
266 Jason Bezio -- N.Y. -- 0
266 Luke Clausen -- Ga. -- 0
266 Kraig Kettelkamp -- N.Y. -- 0
266 Garry Welch -- Canada -- 0
266 Michael Randolph -- Texas -- 0
266 John Pelletier -- N.Y. -- 0
266 Brandon Sykes -- N.C. -- 0
266 Brian O'neil -- Md. -- 0
266 Duane Potter -- Md. -- 0
266 Kevin Hawk -- Calif. -- 0
266 Matthew Belletini -- Mich. -- 0
266 Doug Samsal -- Mich. -- 0
266 Byron Haseotes -- Mass. -- 0
266 Woo Daves -- Va. -- 0
