Marine
Mercury and MotorGuide Pro Boyd Duckett claims 2007 Bassmaster Classic title
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Mercury and MotorGuide pro angler Boyd Duckett won the 2007 Bassmaster Classic here Sunday by a mere six ounces over Mercury teammate Skeet Reese, becoming the first contestant to win the 37-year Classic in his home state.
The victory was worth $504,000 for Duckett - about half the total prize money at the Classic.
Mercury Marine is the official and exclusive engine sponsor of the Bass Anglers Sportsman's Society (BASS) and the Bassmaster Classic.
Mercury anglers garnered the top six spots and eight of the top 10. Mercury pro and two-time champion Kevin VanDam finished third after a disappointing first round performance.
The 2007 Bassmaster Classic on Alabama's Lay Lake began Friday and ended with the final weigh-in Sunday in the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex.
Duckett, 46, led after the first day of competition, but fell to fourth heading into the final round. However, he brought in five fish with a total weight of 17 pounds, 13 ounces Sunday, pushing his three-day combined weight to 48 pounds, 10 ounces. Reese's total was 48 pounds, four ounces.
Duckett of Demopolis, Ala., said winning the Bassmaster Classic is every angler's dream, and he took his best shot.
"I fished the tournament the way I wanted to," he said. "There are so many great competitors here - I had to swing for the fences."
This was Duckett's first trip to the Bassmaster Classic, as a contestant or a spectator.
"I didn't want to come to the Classic until I had a chance to complete," said Duckett. "It was great to win this at home. It doesn't get any better than this."
For Reese, the 2007 Classic was a heartbreaker. He entered Sunday's competition second and felt he was in a great position to win. He was disappointed he couldn't overcome Duckett's effort.
"Tournament fishing is no different than any other sport," said Reese, a California resident. "I had a great tournament. I stuck to my guns and, unfortunately, I came up a little short in the end."
Every 2007 Classic angler drove a new Triton bass boat powered by a Mercury OptiMax 250 Pro XS. Each boat was also outfitted with a MotorGuide
TR109 Digital trolling motor to run during the tournament. Mercury's OptiMax engines in 2007 were ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Two-
Stroke Outboard Engines in a tie" by J.D. Power and Associates, the second-consecutive year OptiMax has won the title.
Mercury Marine is the world's leading manufacturer of recreational marine propulsion engines. A $2.3 billion division of Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC), Mercury and its 6,300 employees worldwide provide engines, boats, services and parts for recreational, commercial and government marine applications. Mercury's industry-leading brand portfolio includes Mercury and Mariner outboard engines; Mercury MerCruiser sterndrives and inboard engines; MotorGuide trolling motors; Mercury and Teignbridge propellers; MotoTron electronic controls; Mercury inflatable boats; Mercury SmartCraft electronics; and Mercury and Quicksilver parts and oils. Mercury Marine's OptiMax engine was ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Two-Stroke Outboard Engines Two Years in a Row, Tied in 2007" by J.D. Power and Associates, and Mercury MerCruiser engines were ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Sterndrive Engines, Two Years in a Row." More information is available at www.mercurymarine.com.
CONTACT: Steve Fleming
Communications Director
Mercury Marine
Phone: 920-929-5340
Email: steve_fleming@mercmarine.com
