March 03, 2005

Glasgow cruises again

EverStart Series rookie barely breaks sweat qualifying for top-10 cut after Wednesday¡Çs record-setting performance

MANNING, S.C. - After breaking the all-time EverStart Series record for a one-day catch in yesterday's competition, Allan Glasgow of Ashville, Ala., knew he would likely advance to Friday's semifinals without even catching a fish. With 32 pounds, 13 ounces already in the books, Glasgow decided to take it easy today. In the end, the EverStart rookie posted a 12-pound, 2-ounce stringer - for a grand two-day total of 44 pounds, 15 ounces - to coast into the semifinals as the No. 1 qualifier.

"Today was like a practice day for me," he said Thursday. "I didn't get as many bites as yesterday, but I found some new areas. I caught some good fish in the same type of spots. And that told me that, basically, nothing has really changed on this lake."

Glasgow said that he avoided his favorite spot in today's competition in order to save it for the final two days. However, he noted that he continued to fish the same way - flipping and throwing crankbaits in approximately 7 to 8 feet of water.

Although the rookie has fished like a pro all week, Glasgow said he's definitely starting to get some rookie jitters - knowing that he will soon be fishing in the finals of the biggest tournament of his career.

"I'm ready to go back out there and get this thing started right now," he said. "The waiting (for the finals to start) is the toughest part."

As for Friday's competition, Glasgow said he isn't going to change things up too much.

"Tomorrow, I'm going straight to my favorite spot and I'm going to stay there all day," said Glasgow, who is hoping for a little more sunshine in Friday's semifinals. "It's definitely exciting to be leading this tournament with this caliber of competition. I can't wait to get going."

Windham nets second place with strong showing

Yancy Windham of Gordo, Ala., was on the outside looking in after posting a modest 12-pound, 4-ounce stringer in yesterday's competition. However, like all great pros, Windham was able to make a strong move when it counted most. Bolstered by a fantastic catch of 24 pounds, 6 ounces on Thursday, Windham was able to leapfrog 14 places to capture the second qualifying position heading into the semifinals.

"I feel really confident right now," said Windham, who registered a large enough stringer to quit fishing by 11 a.m. this morning. "I'm on some big fish. Hopefully, I'll be able to execute properly tomorrow. The key with these types of weather conditions is being versatile."

Windham said his past experience fishing Santee Cooper is paying off as well.

"I've been here before so I know where some big fish are," said Windham, who acknowledged that he's throwing a wide variety of tackle combinations to land his stringers. "I'm really looking forward to tomorrow. (Santee Cooper) is just an awesome pond."

Best of the rest

Jason Knapp of Uniontown, Pa., used a healthy 24-pound, 6-ounce stringer in today's competition - for a two-day total of 36 pounds, 9 ounces - to grab hold of the third qualifying position heading into Friday's semifinals.

Warren Wyman of Calera, Ala., moved up one spot on the pro leaderboard with a two-day catch of 35 pounds, 14 ounces. Wyman qualified in fourth place.

Meanwhile, the biggest comeback of the day undoubtedly belonged to Pat Fisher of Danielsville, Ga. After finishing the opening day of competition tied for 47th place with 6 pounds, 10 ounces, Fisher knew that he needed a huge day of fishing in order to qualify for the top-10 cut. And that's exactly what he got. With little room for error, Fisher turned in one of the biggest stringers of his career today, posting a 27-pound, 8-ounce catch to grab the fifth overall qualifying position.

"I was kind of skeptical about my chances, so I just decided to go fishing," said Fisher. "I had my car packed and everything. But now, it looks like I won't be leaving here until Sunday."

Rounding out the top 10 pro finishers at the EverStart Santee event:

6th: J.T. Kenney of Frostburg, Md., 34-0
7th: Alex Ormand of Bessemer City, N.C., 31-0
8th: Mark Mauldin of Cleveland, Tenn., 29-13
9th: Sean Stepp of Stafford, Va., 25-4
10th: Richard Szczerbala of New Hill, N.C., 24-13

David Goshorn of Harleyville, S.C., won the day's big-bass award in the Pro Division after netting a monstrous 10-pound, 9-ounce largemouth.

Fuller claims top qualifying position in Co-angler Division

Nathan Fuller of Hillsboro, Ga., posted a two-day catch of 26 pounds, 8 ounces to grab the No. 1 qualifying position in the Co-angler Division heading into tomorrow's semifinal round of competition.

"It feels good," said Fuller, who is fishing his very first season on the EverStart Series. "I was in fifth place yesterday, so I'm feeling pretty good about my fishing right now. I just hope I'm still standing at the top on Saturday."

Fuller said he has been using a Carolina rig with a green-pumpkin Baby Brush Hog to land the majority of his catch.

Day-one leader Keith Iddins of Knoxville, Tenn., qualified for the semifinals in second place after posting a two-day catch of 20 pounds, 3 ounces. Cliff Cantey of Olanta, S.C., used a catch of 18 pounds, 7 ounces to grab third place.

Meanwhile, Arch Cornett of Huntsville, Ala., used a catch of 16 pounds, 7 ounces to net the fourth qualifying position. Matthew Parker of Whitesburg, Ga., landed in fifth place with a catch of 16 pounds, 6 ounces.

Best of the rest

Rounding out the top 10 co-angler finishers at the EverStart Santee event:

6th: Derek Schlotterback of Simpsonville, S.C., 16-4
7th: Mark A. Cummings of Pembroke, N.C., 15-12
8th: Bryan Thrift of Shelby, N.C., 15-0
9th: Calvin Jones of Raeford, N.C., 12-0
10th: James M. Cheshire of Kernersville, N.C., 11-8

Cummings also won the day's big-bass award in the Co-angler Division after landing a largemouth weighing 8 pounds, 7 ounces.

Action continues at Friday's takeoff, scheduled to take place at 7 a.m. at John C. Land III landing, located at Lake Marion in Summerton, S.C.

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Posted by DODGE at March 3, 2005 12:09 PM in Tournament (FLW)

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