|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CLEAR LAKE INVITATIONAL
OCTOBER 18 & 19, 2003
The 2003 Invitational was held at its traditional spot, Clear Lake, on October 18 & 19. The turnout of 40 anglers tied the record for best attendance set in 2002. Conditions were sunny and warm, with mild breezes most of the weekend. As usual for this time of year, the lake was under intense tournament pressure from boat anglers.
Day 1 saw Todd Iwamoto jump out to a commanding lead with a stunning 22.30 lb, 5-fish limit, anchored by the big fish of the whole enchilada of 8.61 lbs. In second place was Kevin Marcheschi, who had a solid 15.97 lb bag, partly on the strength of Day 1's 2nd big fish of 8.40 lbs. Last year's champ, Mitch Teman, was in 3rd with 15.15 lbs, while Steve Williams grabbed the 4th spot with 13.61 lbs. The ever-dangerous Rich Caro took 5th with 13.03 lbs, including a 6.17 lb beauty, while 6th place went to Deren Kozenko with 12.94 lbs. The others who finished in the top third on Day 1 were Sal Placensia (11.47 lbs); Travis Tarver (10.95 lbs, anchored by a nice 5.98 lb'er); Rick Alexander (10.56 lbs); Bill Sweatt (10.49 lbs); Doug Tyler (10.34 lbs); Benno Heune (9.72 lbs); and Dave Sternitzke with 9.38 lbs.
Another great raffle was held on Saturday night. A huge thanks to all of the the many sponsors who helped to make this event such a success. Joe Castro won the casting contest.
Day 2 proved to be a hard-fought contest, with several anglers staging big rallies to jump into the winners' circle. Todd Iwamoto struggled to just 6.54 lbs, but one of his fish weighed 4.64 lbs. His two-day total of 28.84 lbs was just enough to outlast Kevin Marcheschi. Kevin had another good day, bringing in 12.39 lbs, including a 6.19 lb dawg, and finished 2nd with 28.36 lbs. Chris Zaldain had a monster second day, bringing in 19.71 lbs, anchored by Day 2's big fish of 8.44 lbs, & ended up 3rd with 24.83 lbs. Mitch Teman brought in 7.73 lbs & finished 4th with a 22.88 lb total, while Tim Zandbergen rallied with 11.10 lbs, including a 5.18 lb beauty, to make it to 5th with a 2-day bag of 20.30 lbs. Chris Zelenka had a big Day 2 with 12.86 lbs, including a 4.45 lb hawg & finished 6th with 20.01 lbs for both days. Travis Tarver had just 2 fish on Day 2, but one of them was Day 2's 2nd big fish of 7.52 lbs. He ended up with 8.91 lbs for the day & 19.86 lbs for the tournament to make it to 7th. 8th place went to Steve Williams, who brought in 6.22 lbs to finish with 19.83 lbs for the weekend, while the 9th spot went to Rich Caro. Day 2 saw Rich with a 5.21 lb dawg to finish the day with 6.78 lbs & the weekend at 19.81 lbs. Rick Alexander weighed-in a 5.51 lb hawg as he brought 8.75 lbs to the scales on Sunday & brought his weight to 19.31 lbs. In the 11th spot was William Perez, who had a nice 11.76 lb, 5-fish limit to finish with 18.87 lbs, while Bill Sweatt turned in his usual solid performance, bringing in 8.34 lbs to conclude the event with 18.83 lbs. Sal Placensia rounded out the winners' circle with 6.87 lbs to finish at 18.34 lbs for the 2 days.
Congratulations to Todd Iwamoto on his 1st Invitational win. This year, it took over 18 lbs to make it to the winners' circle, the highest prize-qualifying weight yet in one of these events. Thanks again to all who fished this year's Invitational. Hope to see you in 2004!
Winners Circle
| Place | Angler |
Day
1 Weight
|
Day
1 Big Fish
|
Day
2 Weight
|
Day
2 Big Fish
|
Total
Weight
|
Points
|
| 1 | Iwamoto |
22.30
|
8.61
|
6.54
|
4.64
|
28.84
|
50
|
| 2 | Marcheschi |
15.97
|
8.40
|
12.39
|
6.19
|
28.36
|
49
|
| 3 | Zaldain |
5.12
|
|
19.71
|
8.44
|
24.83
|
|
| 4 | Teman |
15.15
|
4.32
|
7.73
|
|
22.88
|
|
| 5 | Zandbergen |
9.20
|
|
11.10
|
5.18
|
20.30
|
|
| 6 | Zelenka |
7.15
|
|
12.86
|
4.45
|
20.01
|
|
| 7 | Tarver |
10.95
|
5.98
|
8.91
|
7.52
|
19.86
|
48
|
| 8 | S. Williams |
13.61
|
4.30
|
6.22
|
|
19.83
|
|
| 9 | R. Caro |
13.03
|
6.17
|
6.78
|
5.21
|
19.81
|
47
|
| 10 | Alexander |
10.56
|
|
8.75
|
5.51
|
19.31
|
|
| 11 | Perez |
7.11
|
|
11.76
|
|
18.87
|
46
|
| 12 | Sweatt |
10.49
|
|
8.34
|
|
18.83
|
45
|
| 13 | Plascencia |
11.47
|
5.33
|
6.87
|
|
18.34
|
|
| 14 | Kozenko |
12.94
|
4.32
|
4.98
|
|
17.92
|
44
|
| 15 | Sternitzke |
9.38
|
|
8.29
|
17.67
|
43
|
|
| 16 | Tyler |
10.34
|
|
5.76
|
16.10
|
|
|
| 17 | Tierney |
7.70
|
|
7.67
|
15.37
|
42
|
|
| 18 | Linden |
5.95
|
|
6.61
|
12.56
|
|
|
| 19 | Andress |
6.24
|
|
5.97
|
12.21
|
41
|
|
| 20 | Heune |
9.72
|
|
1.21
|
10.93
|
40
|
|
| 21 | Monteiro |
1.72
|
|
8.60
|
10.32
|
|
|
| 22 | Church |
7.37
|
|
1.70
|
9.07
|
39
|
|
| 23 | N. Johnson |
8.65
|
|
|
8.65
|
38
|
|
| 24 | Keith |
7.31
|
|
1.18
|
8.49
|
37
|
|
| 25 | Cherney |
6.96
|
|
1.20
|
8.16
|
36
|
|
| 26 | Lake |
7.95
|
|
|
7.95
|
|
|
| 27 | Kaffke |
1.94
|
|
5.94
|
7.88
|
35
|
|
| 28 | Ayers |
4.66
|
|
1.94
|
6.60
|
34
|
|
| 29 | Dean |
5.69
|
|
|
5.69
|
33
|
|
| 30 | Fontes |
4.14
|
|
1.16
|
5.30
|
32
|
|
| 31 | Stapleton |
4.27
|
|
|
4.27
|
31
|
|
| 32 | Chester |
1.23
|
|
2.09
|
3.32
|
30
|
|
| 33 | D. Brown |
|
|
3.15
|
3.15
|
29
|
|
| 34 | Beem |
1.46
|
|
1.36
|
2.82
|
28
|
|
| 35 | Rageneau |
2.24
|
|
|
2.24
|
27
|
|
| 36 | Montgomery |
1.98
|
|
|
1.98
|
|
|
| 37 | Stansbury |
1.90
|
|
|
1.90
|
26
|
|
| 38 | Bryant |
1.10
|
|
|
1.10
|
25
|
|
| 39 | M. Williams |
|
|
|
|
23
|
|
| 40 | McTaggart |
|
|
|
|
23
|
Kevin Marcheschi finishes 2nd with
28.36 lbs 
|
Chris Zaldain grabs 3rd with a 2-day
total of 24.83 lbs (Day 2's big fish of 8.40 lbs). 
|
Mitch Teman, last year's champ, takes 4th with
22.88 lbs for 2 days 
|
Tim Zandbergen finishes 5th with 20.30 lbs 
|
Chris Zelenka takes 6th with 20.01 lbs 
|
Travis Tarver brings in some dawgs on the way
to 19.86 lbs & 7th 
|
Steve Williams takes 8th with an impressive 19.83
lb 2-day total 
|
Rich Caro finishes 9th with 19.81 lbs 
|
Rick Alexander takes 10th place with 19.31 lbs 
|
William Perez finishes 11th with 18.87 lbs 
|
Bill Sweatt takes 12th place with 18.83 lbs 
|
Sal Placensia rounds out the winners' circle with
18.34 lbs 
|
Deren Kozenko ends just out of the money with
17.92 lbs 
|
Dave Sternitzke continues his strong rookie run
with 17.67 lbs 
|
Doug Tyler ends up with 16.10 lbs 
|
Mike Tierney with 15.37 lbs 
|
Robert Linden with 12.56 lbs 
|
Jeff Andress with 12.21 lbs 
|
Benno Heune with 10.93 lbs 
|
Dave Monteiro with 10.32 lbs 
|
Fred Church with 9.07 lbs 
|
Nate Johnson with 8.65 lbs 
|
Eric Keith with 8.49 lbs 
|
Terry Cherney with 8.16 lbs 
|
John Lake with 7.95 lbs 
|
Dave Kaffke with 7.88 lbs  |
Mike Ayers with 6.60 lbs 
|
Gunnar Dean with 5.69 lbs 
|
Paul Fontes with 5.30 lbs 
|
Bubba Stapleton with 4.27 lbs 
|
Dan Chester with 3.32 lbs 
|
Dave Brown with 3.15 lbs of bass 
|
Scott Beem with 2.82 lbs 
|
Phil Rageneau with 2.24 lbs 
|
Tad Montgomery with 1.98 lbs 
|
Jay Bryant with 1.10 lbs 
|
