Press Releases         Logos         Photos
Hackney No. 1 In World Going Into Bassmaster Classic
7/26/2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 26, 2005

For more information, contact:
> Jay Kumar, BassFan, (908) 832-5300, jaykumar@bassfan.com
> To request Greg Hackney's contact information, please call or email Jay Kumar

Hackney Is No. 1 Angler In World
Going Into Bassmaster Classic
- He and No. 2 Stone Like How Classic Is Setting Up -

PITTSBURGH, Pa. -- Greg Hackney is the No. 1 angler in the world according to the State Farm-BassFan.com World Rankings heading into this week's Bassmaster Classic. Even though he says he doesn't like the fishing in the three rivers around Pittsburgh, he likes the way this week's Bassmaster Classic is setting up.

"I like it," he said. "I don't necessarily think the fishing is so good, but I like the conditions and the whole set-up. I can't really explain why, but one reason is I like knowing you don't have to catch much. You don't have to catch 20 pounds a day."

Hackney has earned a reputation, and his No. 1 world ranking, by finding and catching fish under the toughest conditions. But so far a good Classic finish has eluded him. "I've never had a good Classic, and I really want to have one," he noted. Maybe it will be this week.

Someone who won't be betting against Hackney is Marty Stone, currently ranked No. 2 in the world. "Greg has a pretty big lead (in World Ranking points) -- he's just in a league of his own right now," Stone said. "If anyone in this world thinks he isn't going to catch fish (this week), they're kidding themselves."

The same can be said about Stone, whose 2005 has been the best year of his career. He said he likes his chances this week. "Usually my better tournaments are when it's really tough, and obviously this will be real tough. This tournament will be a mental battle," he noted, adding, "Tough events like this are easier to win."

Regardless of how both anglers finish in the Classic, they are shoe-ins for the inaugural Cabela's Top Gun Championship, which will take place two weeks after the Classic, August 12-14 on Eagle Mountain Lake in Fort Worth, Texas. Top Gun will field the Top 25 anglers in the world from both tours (the Bassmaster Tour and FLW Tour), according to the State Farm-BassFan.com World Rankings. And it's all about bragging rights.

It's no surprise, then, that Hackney wants to be No. 1 going into and coming out of Top Gun. "I'd really like to still be at No. 1," he said. "When you're No. 1 in anything, once you get there you don't want to leave.

"I'd really like to extend my (World Ranking points) lead," he added. "I had a really good opportunity to do that at Hamilton (at the FLW Tour's recent Forrest L. Wood Championship) and I didn't do a good job of it. So I'm really looking forward to this week."

Editors: For more information on the Cabela's Top Gun Championship, please see www.bassfan.com/topgun. A list of Classic competitors by their World Rank follows this release.

/00

RANKED ANGLERS IN THE 2005 BASSMASTER CLASSIC
[all fields separated by 5 spaces -- asterisk indicates anglers on the Top Gun qualification bubble]

1. Greg Hackney Gonzales, LA (2nd, Open Championship)
2. Marty Stone Linden, NC (2nd, Tour points)
3. Skeet Reese Auburn, CA (9th, Tour points)
4. Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, MI (1st, E50 points)
5. Terry Scroggins Palatka, FL (5th, Tour points)
7. Takahiro Omori Emory, TX (2005 Classic champ)
10. Mike Iaconelli Runnemede, NJ (2nd, E50 points)
12. Edwin Evers Mannsville, OK (4th, Open Championship)
13. Mark Tucker Saint Louis, MO (12th, Tour points)
14. Ron Shuffield Bismarck, AR (10th, Tour points)
15. Kevin Wirth Crestwood, KY (14th, Tour points)
16. Aaron Martens Leeds, AL (6th, E50 points)
17. Stacey King Reeds Spring, MO (28th, Tour points)
*18. George Cochran Hot Springs, AR (28th, Tour points)
*19. Tim Horton Muscle Shoals, AL (17th, Tour points)
*20. David Walker Sevierville, TN (13th, Tour points)
*22. Jeff Kriet Ardmore, OK (6th, Tour points)
*23. Dean Rojas Grand Saline, TX (tied 7th, E50 points)
*25. Jay Yelas Tyler, TX (21st, Tour points)
*26. Brian Snowden Springfield, MO (27th, Tour points)
*27. Davy Hite Prosperity, SC (3rd, E50 points)
*29. Zell Rowland Montgomery, AL (4th, E50 points)
*32. Gerald Swindle Hayden, AL (5th, E50 points)
*33. Scott Rook Little Rock, AR (16th, Tour points)
40. Jeff Reynolds Platter, OK (23rd, Tour points)
41. Larry Nixon Bee Branch, AR (tied 9th, E50 points)
59. Jimmy Mize Ben Lomond, AR (29th, Tour points)
60. Andre Moore Scottsdale, AZ (24th, Tour points)
63. Tom Biffle Wagoner, OK (26th, Tour points)
66. Mike Reynolds Modesto, CA (25th, Tour points)
70. Luke Clausen Spokane Valley, WA (30th, Tour points)
85. Rick Clunn Ava, MO (tied 9th, E50 points)
88. Chris Baumgardner Gastonia, NC (3rd, Open Championship)
91. Ish Monroe Hughson, CA (22nd, Tour points)
99. John Crews Jetersville, VA (19th, Tour points)
102. Chad Morgenthaler Coulterville, IL (tied 7th, E50 points)

NON-RANKED ANGLERS IN THE CLASSIC

Bassmaster Tour Rookies
[to be ranked, an angler must fish a tour for two consecutive years]
> Dave Wolak Warrior Run, PA (4th, Tour points)
> Preston Clark Palatka, FL (15th, Tour points)
> Greg Gutierrez Red Bluff, CA (31st, Tour points)
> Bradley Stringer Huntington, TX (1st, Open Championship)
> Cliff Pace Petal, MS (5th, Open Championship)

Non-Tour Anglers (Amateurs)
> Ed Cowan (BASS Federation, Eastern Division) Greeley, PA
> Jami Fralick (BASS Federation, Northern Division) Martin, SD
> Jeff Hager (BASS Federation, Southern Division) Alexis, NC
> Dave Palmer (BASS Federation, Western Division) Roseburg, OR
> Gerry Jooste (BASS Federation, Central Division) Harare, Zimbabwe



 


About BassFan | Sponsorship/Advertising | Media Center | Contact BassFan | Terms of Use

©2001-2005 BassFan. All rights reserved.

Site design by e-Scapes.com