BLAYLOCK EARNS PRINGLES ROOKIE OF THE YEAR TITLETeam Berkley Pro Won Title by 35 PointsPLATTSBURGH, N.Y. (July 10, 2009) – Team Berkley pro Stetson Blaylock capped off the 2009 Walmart FLW Tour in 39th place overall with 853 points, earning him the Pringles Rookie of the Year title. The Rookie of the Year annually goes to the FLW Tour Pro Division rookie who has the highest year-end point total in the standings at the conclusion of the regular season. Blaylock, who earned $1,000 for the title, secured the crown on Lake Champlain with 10 bass weighing 24 pounds and 11 ounces over the first two days of the final FLW Tour qualifying event of the season.
“It hasn’t really set in yet,” Blaylock said. “It’s a one-time deal. You can only do it once in your life and to accomplish that … it’s amazing. I hope it’s the first of a lot of things to come.”
Blaylock, 21, said he didn’t begin his rookie season as a pro with the intention of winning a Tour event, which he did April 26 at the National Guard Open on Lake Norman in Concord, N.C., or capturing the Rookie of the Year title.
“It was in the back of my mind,” Blaylock said. “But really, you just go out there and want to make a good showing. You know you’re the new kid and you just want to be there and stay out of everybody’s way and do your thing. To be able to win a tournament and Rookie of the Year and hopefully make the Forrest Wood Cup my first year … that’s just awesome.
“I know every year’s not going to be that good, but wow,” Blaylock added. “From now on my goals are going to be to make the Forrest Wood Cup and win the Angler of the Year title. Second is no longer any good after you win. So to make the Cup, win the Cup and win Angler of the Year, that’s all that’s left.”
Blaylock won the 2008 Walmart Open on Beaver Lake in Rogers, Ark., as a co-angler and captured the 2008 FLW Tour Co-Angler of the Year award. He has a total of five victories in FLW Outdoors events, 19 top-10 finishes and more than $393,000 in career earnings.
He began FLW Tour competition as a co-angler in 2004, the same year he began fishing Walmart Bass Fishing League events as a co-angler. He also has fished Stren Series events as both a pro and co-angler and FLW Series events as a co-angler.
Rounding out the top five anglers in the Rookie of the Year race were: Robbie Dodson of Harrison, Ark. (818 points); Randall Tharp of Gardendale, Ala. (802 points); Bobby McMullin of Pevely, Mo. (749 points); and Stuart Arthur of Benton, Mo. (730 points).
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For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournaments, visit FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000. For more information about FLW Fantasy Fishing and Player’s Advantage, visit FantasyFishing.com.
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