For additional information, please contact:
Dave Washburn, communications director, (270) 252-1607
For Immediate Release
FLW Outdoors announces 2003 Entry Dates
BENTON, Ky. (Sept. 9, 2002) – FLW Outdoors, the world’s leading marketer of
competitive fishing tournaments, announced Monday the entry dates for the
2003 $5.76 million Wal-Mart FLW Tour – the world’s most lucrative
competitive bass-fishing series.
Pro Division anglers who finished in the top 100 in the final 2002 standings
as well as the top 50 Co-angler Division anglers may immediately enter all
six 2003 regular-season tournaments. Entries and deposits for all six
regular-season events must be received by Sept. 17, 2002, in order to secure
an FLW Tour berth.
Ranger boat owners, sponsor entries and anglers who qualified for entry
through the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League may enter by sending deposits
beginning at 8 a.m. CST Sept. 18, 2002. Champion, Javelin and Stratos boat
owners may enter by submitting deposits at 8 a.m. CST Sept. 23, 2002.
Deposits for all other entries will be accepted beginning at 8 a.m. CST
Sept. 26, 2002. Top priority is given to anglers who enter all six
regular-season tournaments by Sept. 30, 2002.
Anglers who qualified for entry via the EverStart Series will be given a
designated entry date following the end of regular-season competition in
each division.
Anglers entering FLW Tour events should be aware of the following
guidelines:
· Deposits are accepted by mail, phone and fax or via the Internet
at FLWOutdoors.com.
· Walk-in entries will not be accepted.
· Field sizes are limited to 175 pro anglers and 175 co-anglers.
· Entries received after a tournament has been filled will be placed
on a waiting list.
· Anglers on the waiting list will receive a full refund of their
deposit if they are not accepted into the tournament.
· All other deposits are non-transferable and non-refundable.
· A completed entry form and full entry fee of $1,800 for pros and
$400 for co-anglers ($2,500 for pros and $600 for co-anglers in Open events)
must be received no later than the published entry/balance deadline for each
tournament.
While Wal-Mart FLW Tour purses have increased by $1.31 million over the past
two years, entry fees remain unchanged for the fourth consecutive year. The
2003 tour will pay out cash awards equaling 219 percent of entry fees thanks
to sponsors including Wal-Mart, ALPO Pet Foods, BFGoodrich Tires, Castrol,
Chevy Trucks, Conseco, Eagle Electronics, Energizer, EverStart Batteries,
Evinrude, Faded Glory, Frito-Lay, Fujifilm, Kellogg’s, Land O’Lakes, Minn
Kota, Newell Rubbermaid, Pepsi, Poulan, Ranger Boats, Shop-Vac, Snickers,
Stanley Works, US Bank, Weed Eater and Yamaha Outboards.
The tour, which features cash purses from $500,000 to $1.5 million, kicks
off Jan. 22-25 on Lake Okeechobee in Clewiston, Fla., with a tournament
presented by EverStart Batteries then travels to the Atchafalaya Basin in
Morgan City, La., Feb. 12-15 for a tournament presented by Frito-Lay and
Lake Murray in Columbia, S.C., March 12-15 for a tournament presented by
Snickers. Beaver Lake in Rogers, Ark., will host the $1.26 million Wal-Mart
Open April 9-12 followed by a tournament presented by Energizer on Kentucky
Lake in Benton, Ky., May 14-17 and the $1 million Forrest Wood Open
presented by Kellogg’s on Wheeler Lake in Florence, Ala., June 18-21.
Anglers ranking in the top 48 spots following these six regular-season
tournaments will advance to the $1.5 million Jacobs Cup presented by Castrol
in Richmond, Va., where the world champion will net a record $500,000 cash
and the pro finishing 48th will win $12,200 cash, enough to cover entry fees
for the entire season. The co-angler champion will receive $25,000 cash.
Visit FLWOutdoors.com or call 270-527-4125 for complete entry guidelines.