Alabama pro vaults field, breezes to Cup title

Clent Davis celebrates after winning the Forrest Wood Cup at Bank of the OZK Arena Sunday August 12, 2018. (The Sentinel-Record/Richard Rasmussen)
Clent Davis celebrates after winning the Forrest Wood Cup at Bank of the OZK Arena Sunday August 12, 2018. (The Sentinel-Record/Richard Rasmussen)

Whether in golf or professional bass fishing, the first score posted in a championship round sometimes holds up.

Forrest Wood Cup champion Clent Davis literally went from last to first on Sunday after starting the day in 10th place. The first finalist to reach the scales at a packed Bank OZK Arena, Davis weighed in a five-bass limit of 17 pounds, 13 ounces, the largest stringer in the three-day tournament.

The clubhouse leader, so to speak, watched nine other finalists try to equal his total weight of 36-13. None did, making Davis, at age 32, both $300,200 richer and what emcee Chris Jones called an "instant legend in this sport."

A former college fisherman in his hometown of Montevallo, Ala., Davis had a winning edge of more than 7 pounds over runner-up James Niggemeyer of Van, Texas.

"I went out totally to have fun," Davis said. "All I wanted was just one more day on the water.

"If it wasn't for college fishing I wouldn't be here today," said Davis, the 2012 Fishing League Worldwide Tour Rookie of the Year and with a chance next year, when the tournament returns to Lake Ouachita, to become the first two-time Cup champion.

Fellow Alabamian Wes Logan, the second-round leader at 23-13 and the last man with a chance, managed only a single fish weighing 1-12. He was trying to emulate the 2017 feat of Justin Atkins, yet another from the Heart of Dixie, as a Cup rookie champion.

"I guess it wasn't time for it to happen," Logan said. "But I've been blessed all week. I have friends and family who drove all night to get here today."

Niggemeyer, needing 16-15 to catch Davis, was philosophic after an 8-11 limit for 29-9. "Where else," said the Texan, "can you do this and make a living?"

Following two rounds of 9-8, Davis made the field by the narrowest of margins, 1 ounce, over FLW Tour Rookie of the Year Matt Becker (Finleyville, Pa.). His third-round catch proved the tournament's best by more than 4 pounds.

"I almost quit professional bass fishing last year," Davis said. "I guess it wasn't meant to happen."

Atkins followed at 28-12 after a third-round limit weighing 9-12. Fighting back tears, the Florence, Ala., native, another former college angler, said, "All I ever wanted in life was to be a professional fisherman, standing on this stage."

Nick LeBrun, fourth at 28-6, made his first Cup appearance before joining the FLW Tour in 2019. The Bossier City, La., native accepted an invitation to become a pro after winning this year's All-American, the premier FLW event for weekend anglers.

"I came here just wanting to make the cut (after two rounds)," LeBrun said. "I had five good bites today but never had a big one. It just wasn't my time."

Completing the field were Jason Lambert (Michie, Tenn.) at 27-15, Zack Birge (Blanchard, Okla.) at 26-13, Logan at 25-9, John Cox (DeBary, Fla.) at 24-7. Brandon Cobb (Greenwood, S.C.) at 23-1 and Bradford Beavers (Summerville, S.C.) at 20-8.

As one contestant said in an earlier round, "There's more than $240,000 between first and second place." Beavers, the 10th-place finalist, received $20,000; the 11th through 20th anglers earned $15,000 and 36 others collected $10,000.

NBC Sports Network will air Cup highlights in a noon telecast Thursday, Sept. 27. Fishing League Worldwide raised local spirits with the announcement Saturday that the Forrest Wood Cup would return to Lake Ouachita for the second year in a row and fifth time overall in 2019. Dates are Friday-Sunday, Aug. 9-11.

Local on 08/13/2018

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