ISOM, MARTIN WIN RANGER OWNERS CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES TOURNAMENT ON TABLE ROCK LAKE, EARN BERTH INTO $2 MILLION FORREST WOOD CUP

KIMBERLING CITY, Mo. (May 12, 2007) – Doyle Isom Jr. of Bourbon, Mo., and Aaron Martin of Kimberling City, Mo., teamed up to win the inaugural Ranger Owners Tournament Championship Series event on Table Rock Lake near Kimberling City Saturday with five bass weighing 21 pounds, 3 ounces. The anglers earned a $10,000 Ranger purchase certificate and a berth into the $2 million Forrest Wood Cup in Hot Springs, Ark., Aug. 2-5, where the winning professional can walk away with the sport’s largest award – $1 million.

The anglers caught their bass throwing a shaky-head jig off ledges.

“It’s hard to believe we won,” said Isom, who has amassed over $14,000 in career earnings with FLW Outdoors. “This is a dream come true for me; a truly unbelievable experience. FLW Outdoors is first class when it comes to fishing tournaments, and I can’t wait to experience the Forrest Wood Cup in Hot Springs.”

Robert Dodson and Robbie Dodson of Harrison, Ark., earned second place with five bass weighing 19 pounds, 13 ounces and received a $7,500 purchase certificate plus a berth into the Forrest Wood Cup.

Rounding out the top five teams were Steve Cagle of Farmerville, La., and James Miles of Berryville, Ark., (five bass, 18 pounds, 2 ounces, $7,500); Erhardt Tulgestka of Rogers City, Mich., and Ted Prisbe of Harsens Island, Mich., (five bass, 16 pounds, 7 ounces, $5,000) and Mark Jernigan of Rogersville, Mo., and Terry Thomas of Nixa, Mo., (five bass, 16 pounds, 2 ounces, $4,500).

The team of Gary Niemi and Earl Ellerbee Jr. of Lake Placid, Fla., won a fully rigged Ranger Z20 Comanche from a drawing among the Table Rock Lake competitors.

The first and second place teams at each Ranger Owners Tournament Championship Series event advanced to the 2007 Forrest Wood Cup. The team boater will compete in the Pro Division and fish for a top award of $1 million, and the boater’s partner will compete in the Co-angler Division for a top award of $50,000. Ranger will also cover travel expenses for both qualifiers and will supply them with apparel.  

Named after the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, Forrest L. Wood, FLW Outdoors administers the Wal-Mart FLW Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Series, Stren Series, Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League, Wal-Mart Texas Tournament Trail presented by Abu Garcia, Ranger Owners Tournament Championship Series, Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Walleye League, Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Series, Wal-Mart FLW Redfish Series and Wal-Mart FLW Striper Series. These circuits offer combined purses of nearly $43 million through 241 events in 2007.

Wal-Mart and many of America’s largest and most respected companies support FLW Outdoors and its tournament trails. Wal-Mart signed on as an FLW Outdoors sponsor in 1997 and today is the world’s leading supporter of tournament fishing. For more information about Wal-Mart, visit Walmart.com.