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Oklahoma Pro Edwin Evers Takes Fourth BASS Victory at Bassmaster Elite Series Event on Lake Erie

By BASS Communications
July 22, 2007
(Archive)

Updated: July 22, 2007, 10:38 PM ET

Final Results: Pros | Co-Anglers

BUFFALO — Saving his best for last, Edwin Evers of Talala, Okla., boated the heaviest limit of the tournament, 23 pounds, 14 ounces, of Lake Erie smallmouth bass Sunday, to outlast a hard-charging Kotaro Kiriyama of Moody, Ala., by 4 pounds at the Empire Chase presented by Mahindra Tractors.

James Overstreet

Edwin Evers wins the Empire Chase with 23-10 ounces on Sunday.

Evers, 32, totaled 65 pounds, 7 ounces, over the course of the tournament, which was shortened from four days to three because of inclement weather, to win his first Bassmaster Elite Series event and the $100,000 top prize. With the victory, the four-time BASS winner has totaled more than $1 million in career earnings — the 19th BASS angler to accomplish that feat.

Fishing fans can catch all of the on-the-water action from the Empire Chase on The Bassmasters at 9 a.m. ET Saturday, July 28, on ESPN2.

"This is one of the most awesome days in my whole life," Evers said of the final day. "This is unbelievable. To tell you the truth, I didn't even really know if I won it, even though I had such a great day."

Ironically, Evers doesn't consider fishing for smallmouth as one of his strengths. With the victory, the versatile Oklahoma pro expanded his skill set.

Throughout the tournament, Evers drop-shotted a green pumpkin Yum Houdini worm in 36 to 42 feet of water. During the first day of competition, Evers scored a sixth-place finish despite motor trouble that cost him some of his fishing day. Saturday, he took over the lead with a 21-pound limit, and he closed the deal Sunday with the big limit.

Kiriyama totaled 61 pounds, 7 ounces, of smallmouth and posted the best Elite Series finish of his career. The 36-year-old keyed on areas that were filled with shad, primarily working a worm. He was traveling farther from the launch site than any of the other competitors, trekking almost 60 miles each day.

"Today was a beautiful day," said Kiriyama, who notched his fifth second-place finish in BASS competition. "The key to my success was adjusting to the weather. I had my areas all to myself and we don't experience that too often."

In third was John Murray of Phoenix, with 60 pounds, 8 ounces. In fourth was Terry Butcher, also of Talala, with 60 pounds, 3 ounces. Butcher shared an area with Evers, his brother in law, for much of the tournament but left the area to Evers on the final day.

In fifth was Greg Hackney of Gonzales, La., with 59 pounds, 15 ounces. Hackney's limit included a 5-pound, 10-ounce smallmouth that earned Purolator Big Bass Honors for the day.

Thursday's leader Paul Hirosky, of Guy Mills, Pa., slipped to eighth with 58 pounds, 1 ounce.

After the ninth Elite event of 2007, the season-long points races remain tight. Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year leader Skeet Reese of Auburn, Calif., increased his lead to 20 points over two-time Bassmaster Classic champ Kevin VanDam of Kalamazoo, Mich. In the Toyota Rookie of the Year race, two 2007 Elite winners, Derek Remitz of Madison, Ala., and Casey Ashley of Donalds, S.C., are battling it out. Remitz, who won the season-opening event on Texas' Lake Amistad leads Ashley by 30 points.

The next tournament for the 51 qualifying anglers from the 108-angler Elite Series is the Bassmaster Memorial presented by Evan Williams Bourbon July 26-29 in Syracuse, N.Y. The next Elite Series event is set for Aug. 9-12 on the Potomac River out of LaPlata, Md. The 11th and final Elite event of the season is scheduled for Sept. 13-16 on Florida's Lake Tohopekaliga.

For live updates, analysis and photo galleries of Bassmaster Elite Series events, visit www.ESPNOutdoors.com. Purolator Big Bass Day 4
Pro: Greg Hackney; Gonzales, La.; 5-10

Location and Field
Empire Chase — Bassmaster Elite Series
Lake Erie
Buffalo, NY
July 19-22

Field
108 pros, 108 co-anglers
Cut to top 50 after Day 2
Cut to top 12 pro anglers after Day 3

Local sponsors: Local sponsors include the Buffalo Niagara Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Bassmaster Elite Series sponsors: Sponsors of the Bassmaster Elite Series include Toyota Tundra, Purolator, Triton Boats, Mercury Marine, Berkley, Advance Auto Parts, Lowrance Electronics, MotorGuide, Evan Williams Bourbon, Ramada Worldwide and Costa Del Mar.
For more information, contact BASS Communications at (407) 566-2208 or visit www.bassmaster.com. Visit www.espnmediazone.com for ESPN's latest releases, schedules and other news, plus photos, video and audio clips and more.

News exclusives, audio and video clips of bass fishing's biggest stars, loads of discounts and more are all part of BASS Insider, an exclusive membership, now available at www.bassmaster.com.

BASS is the worldwide authority on bass fishing, staging more than 20,000 events through the BASS Federation Nation annually. Guided by its mission to serve all fishing fans, BASS sets the standard for credibility, professionalism, sportsmanship and conservation, as it has for nearly 40 years.

BASS stages and sanctions bass fishing tournaments for every skill level culminating with the Bassmaster Classic. Through its clubs, youth programs, aquatic resource advocacy, magazine publishing and multimedia platforms, BASS offers the industry's widest array of services and support to its nearly 530,000 members. The organization is headquartered in Celebration, Fla.

2007 Empire Chase Pro 07/19-07/22 , Buffalo N.Y. (PRO Division) Standings Day 3 Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$ 1. Edwin Evers Talala, Okla. 15 65-07 $109,000.00 Day 1: 5 20-13 Day 2: 5 21-00 Day 3: 5 23-10 2. Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, Ala. 15 61-07 $30,000.00 Day 1: 5 20-08 Day 2: 5 18-12 Day 3: 5 22-03 3. John Murray Phoenix, Ariz. 15 60-08 $25,000.00 Day 1: 5 19-08 Day 2: 5 21-05 Day 3: 5 19-11 4. Terry Butcher Talala, Okla. 15 60-03 $18,000.00 Day 1: 5 18-05 Day 2: 5 19-15 Day 3: 5 21-15 5. Greg Hackney Gonzales, La. 15 59-15 $18,000.00 Day 1: 5 21-02 Day 2: 5 18-14 Day 3: 5 19-15 6. Boyd Duckett Demopolis, Ala. 15 59-01 $15,500.00 Day 1: 5 18-07 Day 2: 5 20-09 Day 3: 5 20-01 7. Kevin Wirth Crestwood, Ky. 15 58-01 $15,000.00 Day 1: 5 21-00 Day 2: 5 20-10 Day 3: 5 16-07 8. Paul Hirosky Guys Mills, Pa. 15 57-14 $15,500.00 Day 1: 5 21-11 Day 2: 5 19-14 Day 3: 5 16-05 9. Aaron Martens Leeds, Ala. 15 55-09 $14,000.00 Day 1: 5 20-01 Day 2: 5 19-07 Day 3: 5 16-01 10. Elton Luce Jr Brookeland, Texas 15 55-08 $15,500.00 Day 1: 5 20-10 Day 2: 5 18-04 Day 3: 5 16-10 11. Jami Fralick Martin, S.D. 15 51-12 $12,500.00 Day 1: 5 18-03 Day 2: 5 21-13 Day 3: 5 11-12 12. Rick Morris Virginia Beach, Va. 13 48-08 $12,300.00 Day 1: 5 19-03 Day 2: 5 20-04 Day 3: 3 9-01 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Purolator Big Bass Day 1 Elton Luce Jr Brookeland, Texas 6-04 $1,000.00 2 Cliff Pace Petal, Miss. 5-15 $1,000.00 3 Greg Hackney Gonzales, La. 5-10 $1,000.00 Purolator Big Bass of Tournament Elton Luce Jr Brookeland, Texas 6-04 $1,000.00 Berkley Big Bag Day 1 Paul Hirosky Guys Mills, Pa. 21-11 $1,000.00 2 Eric Nethery Acworth, Ga. 22-06 $1,000.00 3 Edwin Evers Talala, Okla. 23-10 $1,000.00 Berkley Big Bag of Tournament Edwin Evers Talala, Okla. 23-10 $8,000.00 ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Totals Day #Limits #Fish Weight 1 90 499 1566-12 2 98 517 1742-01 3 11 58 213-11 ---------------------------------- 199 1074 3522-08

TOYOTA TUNDRA BASSMASTER ANGLER OF THE YEAR STANDINGS

2007 Empire Chase - Empire Chase Pro Points After Lake Erie/Niagara River Tributaries, Buffalo, N.Y. Ending 07-22-2007, Day 3 --------------------------------------------------------------- Place Name Hometown Points --------------------------------------------------------------- 1 Skeet Reese Auburn, Calif. 2259 2 Kevin VanDam Kalamazoo, Mich. 2239 3 Jared Lintner Arroyo Grande, Calif. 2037 4 Aaron Martens Leeds, Ala. 1992 5 Terry Scroggins San Mateo, Fla. 1953 6 Edwin Evers Talala, Okla. 1935 7 Steve Kennedy Auburn, Ala. 1930 8 Ishama Monroe Hughson, Calif. 1927 9 Scott Rook Little Rock, Ark. 1907 10 John Murray Phoenix, Ariz. 1882 11 Fred Roumbanis Auburn, Calif. 1879 12 Peter E Thliveros Jacksonville, Fla. 1869 13 Todd Faircloth Jasper, Texas 1868 14 Stephen Browning Hot Springs, Ark. 1846 15 Kelly Jordon Mineola, Texas 1838 15 Greg Hackney Gonzales, La. 1838 17 Kevin Wirth Crestwood, Ky. 1826 18 Timmy Horton Muscle Shoals, Ala. 1825 19 Jeff Kriet Ardmore, Okla. 1820 20 Boyd Duckett Demopolis, Ala. 1791 21 Takahiro Omori Emory, Texas 1781 22 Tommy Biffle Wagoner, Okla. 1770 23 Brent Chapman Lake Quivira, Kan. 1764 24 Chris Lane Winter Haven, Fla. 1750 25 Gary Klein Weatherford, Texas 1748 26 Mike McClelland Bella Vista, Ark. 1745 27 Derek Remitz Hemphill, Texas 1742 28 Cliff Pace Petal, Miss. 1719 28 Michael Iaconelli Runnemede, N.J. 1719 30 Casey Ashley Donalds, S.C. 1712 31 Kevin Short Mayflower, Ark. 1701 32 Dave Wolak Wake Forest, N.C. 1678 33 Jeff Reynolds Idabel, Okla. 1676 34 Mark Menendez Paducah, Ky. 1668 35 Dean Rojas Grand Saline, Texas 1665 36 Mark Tyler Vian, Okla. 1657 37 John Crews Salem, Va. 1652 38 Alton Jones Waco, Texas 1651 39 Matthew Sphar Pavilion, N.Y. 1647 40 Kotaro Kiriyama Moody, Ala. 1646 41 Gerald Swindle Warrior, Ala. 1618 42 Shaw E Grigsby, Jr Gainesville, Fla. 1611 43 Davy Hite Ninety Six, S.C. 1599 44 Jason Williamson Aiken, S.C. 1597 45 Jason Quinn Lake Wylie, S.C. 1586 46 Scott Campbell Springfield, Mo. 1571 47 Ray Sedgwick Cross, S.C. 1569 48 Yusuke Miyazaki Mineola, Texas 1566 49 Denny Brauer Camdenton, Mo. 1563 50 Marty Robinson Lyman, S.C. 1553 51 Randy Howell Springville, Ala. 1549 52 Bryan Hudgins Orange Park, Fla. 1546 53 Rick Morris Virginia Beach, Va. 1542 54 Brian Snowden Reeds Spring, Mo. 1538 55 Mike Wurm Hot Springs, Ark. 1532 56 Morizo Shimizu Murrieta, Calif. 1528 57 Kenyon Hill Norman, Okla. 1514 58 Matt Reed Madisonville, Texas 1504 59 Paul Elias Laurel, Miss. 1481 60 Pete Ponds Madison, Miss. 1480 61 Mark Tucker Saint Louis, Mo. 1472 62 Britt Myers Lake Wylie, S.C. 1466 63 Russ Lane Prattville, Ala. 1456 64 Bill Lowen North Bend, Ohio 1455 64 Bernie Schultz Gainesville, Fla. 1455 66 Ken D Cook Lawton, Okla. 1434 67 James Niggemeyer Van, Texas 1430 68 Kurt Dove Fairfax, Va. 1428 69 Bradley Hallman Norman, Okla. 1422 70 Rick Clunn Ava, Mo. 1415 71 Jami Fralick Martin, S.D. 1405 72 Jeremy Starks Charleston, W.Va. 1401 73 Jim Murray Arabi, Ga. 1399 74 Jimmy Mize Ben Lomond, Ark. 1359 75 Paul Hirosky Guys Mills, Pa. 1356 76 Lee Bailey Boaz, Ala. 1343 77 Ken Brodeur Niantic, Conn. 1328 78 Ben Matsubu Hemphill, Texas 1324 79 Kevin Langill Terrell, N.C. 1317 80 Greg Gutierrez Red Bluff, Calif. 1316 81 Marty Stone Fayetteville, N.C. 1315 82 Jeff Connella Bentley, La. 1300 83 James Kennedy Lacombe, La. 1294 84 Grant Goldbeck Gaithersburg, Md. 1289 85 Preston Clark Palatka, Fla. 1225 86 Glenn Delong Bellville, Ohio 1213 87 Zell Rowland Montgomery, Texas 1212 88 James Charlesworth Saint Cloud, Fla. 1201 89 Matt Amedeo Clinton, Ohio 1199 90 Terry Butcher Talala, Okla. 1193 91 Charlie Hartley Grove City, Ohio 1190 92 Guy Eaker Cherryville, N.C. 1173 93 Dave Smith Del City, Okla. 1165 94 Mark Rogers Naples, Fla. 1164 95 Darrin Schwenkbeck Varysburg, N.Y. 1145 96 Bill Smith Somerset, Ky. 1138 97 Steve Daniel Clewiston, Fla. 1116 98 Keith Phillips Calera, Ala. 1102 99 Bradley Stringer Huntington, Texas 1100 100 Eric Nethery Acworth, Ga. 1064 101 Doc Merkin Downers Grove, Ill. 1046 102 Jimmy Mason Rogersville, Ala. 1030 103 Frank Scalish Cleveland Heights, Ohio 1027 104 Jon Bondy Windsor, Canada 1025 105 Byron Velvick Del Rio, Texas 995 106 Rick Ash Pottstown, Pa. 914 107 Charlie Youngers Geneva, Fla. 891 108 Elton Luce Jr Brookeland, Texas 855

TOYOTA ROOKIE OF THE YEAR STANDINGS

1 Derek Remitz Hemphill Texas 1,742 2 Casey Ashley Donalds S.C. 1,712 3 Matthew Sphar Pavilion N.Y. 1,647 4 Jason Williamson Aiken S.C. 1,597 5 Scott Campbell Springfield Mo. 1,571 6 Marty Robinson Lyman S.C. 1,553 7 Bryan Hudgins Orange Park Fla. 1,546 8 James Niggemeyer Van, Texas 1,430 9 James Kennedy Lacombe La. 1,294 10 Glenn Delong Bellville Ohio 1,213 11 James Charlesworth Saint Cloud Fla. 1,201 12 Matt Amedeo Clinton, Ohio 1,199