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DiVincenti Captures Women's World Champion Title

August 20, 2003

Inside Line Assistant Editor Heidi Roth is on location in Shreveport Louisiana, covering the WBFA Women's World Championship. If you click on Slideshows in the yellow navigation bar across the top of the page, you'll see many photos there taken by Heidi at the 2003 WBFA Classic. Following is a press release issued by the WBFA:

DIVINCENTI CAPTURES WORLD CHAMPION TITLE

World Champion Mary DiVincenti, Clinton, Louisiana, stepped to the front of the tournament in the Classic World Championship of Women’s Bass Fishing on the first day and stayed there during all three days of competition. DiVincenti had to defend off rushes from veteran women professional bass anglers. Sheri Glasgow, Angler of the Year 2003 from Muskogee, Oklahoma, Judy Wong, 2-time defending World Champion from Sugarland Texas, and Donna Newberry, Van Buren Arkansas, Made strong runs at the top place on the leaderboard. DiVincenti stayed steady and brought in 3 5-fish limits that earned her 35.89 points, the World Champion title, and a new Triton TR-18 Bass Boat.

The Women’s Bass Fishing Association conducted the 3-day tournament on the Red River out of Shreveport, Louisiana. Thirty-four women professional bass anglers from 12 states competed in the classic event.

On the first day of competition, DiVincenti brought one of only two 5-fish limits. Her 5 fish totaled 12.45 pounds keeping her ahead of second place Newberry by only .74 points. On the second day, she again brought in another 5 fish limit that tilted the scales at 12.96 pounds. But Wong brought in the biggest stringer landed during the tournament, 17.29 pounds to take second and move within 1.27 pounds of the leader. Glasgow also brought in a 5-fish limit that moved her to within 8 pounds of the leader. Newberry was able to only land 3 fish the second day.

The final day of competition was to turn into a walk-away. Glasgow and Pam Martin-Wells, Bainbridge, Georgia, both brought limits to the weigh-in stage putting the pressure on DiVincenti. Last to arrive, the new World Champion was able to show the crowd of over 500 spectators a solid 5-fish limit that jumped her ahead of the rest of the competitors by over 6 pounds. Honorary Weighmaster Gary Yamamoto, Yamamoto Custom Baits, was proud to announce the weight of her fish and present her the title World Champion.

“I was able to find a shallow water pattern during the VIP tournament held on Wednesday,” explained DiVincenti. “I found the fish in thick brush and water hyacinths in 18 inches of water. When the pattern held on the first day of competition, I knew that unless there was a drastic change in the weather, the pattern would hold during competition. I worked a spinner bait and buzz bait.”

World Champion DiVincenti was honored at a reception hosted by Bass Pro Shops and a banquet at Harrah’s in Shreveport following the tournament. She was presented her prizes and congratulations from the rest of the professional woman anglers.

The WBFA is the only professional bass fishing tournament trail designed for women. It supports both professional and amateur anglers. Triton Boats, Mercury Marine, Minn Kota Trolling Motors, Hummingbird Electronics, Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits, Gator Grip, Deka Marine Batteries, FlowMaster, and Eidolon Baits sponsor the trial.

For more information, go to wbfatour.com or contact Al Hubbard (850) 866-0626.

LEADERBOARD

1. Mary DiVinceti Clinton, LA 35.89
2. Judy Wong Sugarland, TX 29.55
3. Pam Martin-Wells Bainbridge, GA 21.84
4. Sheri Glasgow Muskogee, OK 21.30
5. Donna Newberry Van Buren, AK 19.88
6 Sylvia Graham Valparaiso, IN 14.9

2003 WBFA World Championship

August 8, 2003

Women’s Classic touted by Lt. Governor & Bass Life

Louisiana Lt. Governor Kathleen Blanco recently announced that the state of Louisiana would host the 2003 Classic World Championship of women’s bass fishing. Working with the Women's Bass Fishing Association, the state will welcome the top 34 professional women bass anglers from 12 different states during the Classic Week of August 17 - 23, 2003.

Lt. Governor said at the special press conference, "We are excited to have these outstanding bass fishermen come to Shreveport and hold their Classic World Championship on our Red River. They will be representing 12 different states. We are proud they chose Louisiana to do something they are obviously good at and enjoy."

The women anglers have fished 5 different 2003 WBFA season tournaments placing themselves as the winners or on the leader boards to earn points to qualify for the event.

All fishing activities will be held out of the Stoner Avenue Boat Landing in Shreveport. The Quality Inn Suites/Microtel Inn Suites will be the Classic housing headquarters.

On Tuesday evening of Classic Week, the ladies will attend a banquet honoring the WBFA Tour Angler of the Year (sponsored by Triton Boats and Mercury Marine), Rookie of the Year (sponsored by Mercury Marine), and Amateur of the Year (sponsored by Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits).

The Classic qualifiers will start the week by hosing a CAST for Kids event on Sunday morning. Working with the local Shriners, all the ladies will adopt a needy child and take them fishing for the morning. Each kid will be presented a rod and reel, tackle box, T-shirt, and a plaque boasting a picture of them and their Pro-for-the-Day.

On Wednesday, the Pros will be paired with VIPs from Shreveport and from across the State to compete in a VIP Charity Bass Tournament sponsored by Harrah’s Casino. The Pro/VIP teams will be fishing for $1,000, which will be donated to the VIP’s chosen Louisiana charity. The event is proving to be a very exciting and well-participated event.

The weigh-in for the VIP tournament will be held at noon at the Stoner Avenue launch. The VIP's and their professional bass fishermen will bring their live catch to the stage to be weighed-in and then released back into the Red River. The public is invited. It is not only an interesting, but also an entertaining event.

All bass caught will be released alive. Louisiana Bass Life Association will provide a live release boat, which will transport the bass from the weigh-in site back to the Red River. BLA spokesman Dudley Beene said, "Bass Life is happy to work closely with Lt. Governor Blanco and the WBFA Tour, to see that all the fish caught during this tournament are returned to their natural habitat. After each anglers catch is weighed, her fish will be placed in specially treated and cooled water. When the weigh-in is over all of that days catch will then be returned to the Red River, and released in various locations. This will insure the protection of our great fishery and help preserve this natural resource for the future.” 

Lt. Governor Blanco echoed his dedication and concern for the fisheries in the Red River. She said, "The fact that these anglers take the extra effort and expense to make sure the bass are released alive lends credit to all bass fishermen. Their catch and release program has spearheaded many like programs for other types of fish. We appreciate the effort to protect Louisiana’s natural resources. I am fully committed to protect and develop these natural resources so that our state will attract such events at this one, and continue to grow as a family vacation destination for years to come.”

Leonard Kleinpeter, assistant to Lt. Governor Blanco, comments, “Louisiana is truly the “Sportsman’s Paradise” and the fact that the WBFA Tour, and other organizations like it, are attracted to hold their championship events here further enhances and promotes that motto. We are committed to the promotion and development of our great fisheries, natural resources and recreation opportunities all across this great State.” 

Tournament competition will start at safe daylight on Thursday morning. After a prayer, salute to veterans and the USA, along with a fireworks enhanced National Anthem, the 34 Pros will launch on the Red River in quest of the title “World Champion”.

Competition will continue through Saturday. Each of the competition afternoons, the Pros will return to the Stoner Avenue Landing for weigh-in at 3:00pm. Each day, the weigh-ins will be guest-emceed by the Singing Cherokee, Chief George Braswell. Spectators will be kept informed of each Pros status and the insights into the tournament.

On Saturday, the weigh-in will take on a more gala atmosphere. The Worlds Greatest Fishing Band will present a free-to-the-public concert at 1:45pm. They also performed at the final weigh-in of the 2002 BASSMASTERS Classic. 

The scales will open at 3:00pm for the final and always suspenseful weigh-in. There will be free rod and reels for the first 50 kids and fishing tackle will be tossed to the crowd throughout the weigh-in. There will be 200 4-CD sets of the Worlds Greatest Fishing Band handed out to the early arrivals to the concert and weigh-in as well. At the conclusion of the weigh-in, one of the women Pros will be presented the title of World Champion and handed the keys to a fully rigged Triton bass boat.

The Champion banquet will be held on Saturday evening at Harrah's with a welcoming reception hosted by Bass Pro Shops.

The WBFA Tour is the only professional bass tournament trail for women bass anglers. Major sponsors include Triton Boats, Mercury Marine, Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits, FlowMaster, DEKA batteries, MinnKota, and Eidolon Bait Company. 

Related Story
2003 WBFA Championship Slated for August

July 23, 2003

The sixth Classic World Championship of women’s bass fishing will be held in Shreveport, Louisiana on the Red River. The State of Louisiana, the Shreveport Regional Sports Authority and the Shreveport/Bossier Convention & Visitors Bureau have worked together to bring the world-class event to northwest Louisiana.

“Classic Week” will begin on Saturday, August 16th, when the top 34 women pros arrive in Shreveport. The pros will take 34 disadvantaged kids fishing on Sunday, August 17th in a CAST For Kids event. “CAST” is an acronym for Catch A Special Thrill. There will be a picnic for the kids, their families and the pros after the fishing trip ends at noon on Sunday, provided by the Shreveport area Shriners. Each of the kids will be presented with a new Zebco rod and reel combo, a tackle box, a T-shirt, and a plaque boasting a picture of each kid with their “Pro-for-the-Day.”

Official practice for the Classic World Championship will be on Monday and Tuesday.

A banquet will be held on Tuesday evening honoring the WBFA Tour “Rookie of the Year”, “Amateur of the Year”, and “Angler of the Year.” The Rookie and Amateur of the Year will each receive cash awards for their accomplishments. Mercury Motors sponsors the Rookie of the Year award, and Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits sponsors the Amateur of the Year award.

On Wednesday there will be a charity VIP event, sponsored by Harrah’s Casino of Shreveport. Each pro will be paired with VIP’s from Shreveport, the surrounding area and from across the state. The pro and the VIP will fish as a team. The winning team will receive $1000 to the pro and a $1000 donation to the VIP’s favorite Louisiana Charity. Refreshments for the pros and the VIP’s and their guests will be provided during the weigh-in at noon.

Competition for the Classic World Championship will begin at first light on Thursday, August 21st with the National Anthem and fireworks. There will be three days of competition with the final weigh-in on Saturday, August 23rd. Each take off and weigh-in will be held at the Stoner Street boat launch site. Take off will be at first light each day (approx. 6:15am) and the Weigh-in will start at 3pm each day.

Press observers are welcome to be on the water in the pro’s boats each day. There will be free fishing related products thrown out to the crowd at each weigh-in. Recording artist, Chief George Braswell, known as "The Singing Cherokee" will be the guest emcee at each weigh-in, and will perform the American Trilogy before the final weigh-in on Saturday. Chief George Braswell is a retired Air Force Chief and the National Field Promotions Director for Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits.

There will be a free-to-the-public concert by the World’s Greatest Fishing Band on Saturday, starting at 2pm, 1hour before the final weigh-in. There will be 200 of the band’s 4-CD sets given to the early arriving members of the public. There will also be 50 rod and reel combos given to the first 50 kids, accompanied by a parent, to arrive. There will be fishing related products thrown out to the crowd at the final weigh-in.

There will be a banquet, honoring the new World Champion of women’s bass fishing, held on Saturday evening. Classic World Championship awards will also be presented at this banquet. Triton Boats by Earl Bentz sponsors the Angler of the Year award ($5000 cash), as well as the World Champion award (fully rigged bass boat worth over $25,000).

Judy Wong, from Sugarland, Texas, has won an unprecedented 2 World Championships in a row. She won the 2001 Classic World Championship on the Red River in Alexandria, Louisiana. She won the 2002 Classic World Championship in Eufaula, Alabama on Lake Eufaula. Judy will be trying for a 3-peat at this Classic. She will be facing very stiff competition from 33 accomplished bass anglers, which include the likes of Sheri Glasgow (2003 Angler of the Year), Pam Martin Wells (all-time leading money winner in women’s competitive bass fishing), Emily Shaffer (2002 Angler of the Year), Sherrie Brubaker (past World Champion and 3-time Angler of the Year), Penny Berryman (Bass Legends member and past Angler of the Year) and JoNell Whitstine (past Angler of the Year and Pineville, Louisiana resident).

The Women’s Bass Fishing Association is the only national organization that provides a tour for women to competitively bass fish among their peers. The WBFA Tour was established in 1997 to offer women, which wish to competitively bass fish, a venue to gain higher recognition and reward for following their dream. The WBFA Tour seeks to bring parity to women’s competitive bass fishing.

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