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FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date:
July 20, 2005 Contact:
Scott Arms, Promotions
Coordinator 870-453-2222 ext. 2415;
Wal-Mart FLW Outdoors, Ranger Boats Announce Record $2.5 Million Bass
Tournament
MINNEAPOLIS, MN — Wal-Mart FLW
Outdoors and Ranger Boats have combined efforts to conduct the richest bass
tournament in the history of the sport. A record $1 million in cash will be
awarded to the first-place pro in the Ranger Owners Championship (ROC). There
will also be a record $250,000 in cash paid to the first-place co-angler in
the ROC. Irwin Jacobs,
chairman of Wal-Mart FLW Outdoors, stated: "When we started the Wal-Mart
FLW Tour 10 years ago, I hoped and believed that there would come a day when
professional anglers would have the opportunity to compete in one of our tournaments
for a million-dollar payday. That day has now arrived, and there is no one
happier or more excited than me." Jacobs further
stated: "I believe that Wal-Mart, Ranger Boats and all of our other FLW Outdoors
sponsors are collectively responsible for the growth in professional angling
as well as raising its awareness to new historic levels. The ROC will raise
the bar once again and become the most important and unique professional
fishing tournament in the history of competitive angling." Randy Hopper,
president of Ranger Boats, stated: "Today is clearly a historical time
in professional bass fishing. Ranger is extremely proud to be a partner with
Wal-Mart FLW Outdoors in the first-ever $1 million payday to the professional
bass angler who wins the ROC. Ranger's support and participation for this
historic event is our way of saying thank you to the thousands of Ranger boat
owners who have helped to make Ranger the No. 1 bass-boat company in the
world." Hopper further
stated: "Although professional bass fishing has come a long way,
particularly over the past 10 years since Wal-Mart, FLW Outdoors and Ranger
partnered to create the world's largest and most prestigious
fishing-tournament organization, I believe the next 10 years will even be
more impressive and will provide more opportunities for anglers competing in
Wal-Mart FLW Outdoors tournaments." Charlie Evans,
president of FLW Outdoors, stated: "I've committed the better part of my
life to support professional fishing and to be part of this great
organization and industry that, in these wonderfully historical times, is a
dream come true. Besides the fact that the ROC is going to pay $1 million in
cash to the pro who wins and $250,000 in cash to the winning co-angler, there
will also be a record-setting additional $1.25 million paid to the field.
When you talk about the huge sums of money being paid out in professional
fishing, it is no wonder people everywhere are paying attention to, and
getting involved in, competitive professional bass fishing." Final tournament
rules and necessary information will be made available no later than Dec. 15,
2005. Exact dates and location of the ROC will be announced next year at the
2006 Wal-Mart FLW Championship being held in Birmingham, Ala., August 2-5,
2006. THE FOLLOWING IS A GENERAL OUTLINE OF THE RANGER OWNERS
CHAMPIONSHIP (ROC)
Pro Qualification
Co-Angler Qualification
FLW Outdoors END |
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