Like a Wall Street stockbroker yelling "sold" on a frantic day of trading, Chris Jones shouted loudly from the Bank OZK Arena stage Saturday.
With each cry of "new leader" from the tournament emcee, the standings changed in the Forrest Wood Cup. After more than two hours of weighing in Lake Ouachita bass, the top 10 anglers on what Jones called "the left side of the board" of a giant video screen were determined.
Those were the survivors from an original field of 56 in Fishing League Worldwide's premier event, one co-sponsored locally by Visit Hot Springs and the state of Arkansas. They're the featured attractions on what the tour calls "Championship Sunday," launching at 7 a.m. from Brady Mountain Resort & Marina and returning to Bank OZK Arena for what looms as a suspense-filled final weigh-in. Arkansas entertainer Justin Moore stages a free concert at 4 p.m., setting up the crowd for what is sure to prove a life-changing experience for the Cup champion.
Veterans and newcomers alike can make history in the fourth FLW Cup on Lake Ouachita. The defending champion can become the tournament's first two-time winner -- in only his second year on tour. So can a six-time Cup qualifier who cracked the top 10 as the last second-round contestant to reach the scales.
Then again, one of the new kids in town could keep a hot streak going and prevail, like Justin Atkins last year in South Carolina, as a Cup rookie.
Alabamian Wes Logan topped the standings with a second-round limit of 5 bass weighing 12-4, saying "I'm just going with my gut, and so far it's been right." Logan has a 1-pound, 2-ounce advantage over Bossier City, La., pro Nick LeBrun, the Bossier City, La., pro trying to become the first same-year winner of the All-American Championship (for weekend anglers) and the Forrest Wood Cup.
LeBrun caught only three fish Saturday but one was a monster. "I only had four bites today," he said, "and that was my second."
James Niggemeyer, a Cup rookie, is third at 20-14, trails Logan (23-13) and Lebrun (22-11). "My wife's got dinner ready for me and I'm going to encourage myself to go back out on the water," said the Texan.
Oklahoman Zack Birge is fourth at 20-6 and Tennessee pro Jason Lambert fifth at 20-3. John Cox, the 2016 Cup champion, made the cut with an 8-11 stringer for 19-14, dropping 2018 FLW Tour Rookie of the Year Matt Becker (18-15) to 11th place at the last moment.
Completing the top 10 were South Carolina anglers Bradford Beavers (19-15) and Brandon Cobb (19-2) and Alabamians Atkins and Clent Davis (both at 19-0).
Wynne's Mark Rose, the 2018 Pennzoil Angler of the Year with the most points in seven qualifying tournaments, placed 25th at 14-1. Bentonville's Greg Bohannan placed 52nd at 4-10, each Arkansan receiving $10,000. The 11th- through 20th-place finishers each collected $15,000.
Sports on 08/12/2018