Tammy Richardson of Arkansas Takes Her Third Women’s Bassmaster Tour Title
Richardson Pulls Out of Her Season Slump in Style
GUNTERSVILLE, Ala. — Tammy Richardson of Amity, Ark., became a three-time winner and turned around her 2007 season when she prevailed Saturday at the Mercury Marine Women’s Bassmaster Tour presented by Triton Boats event at Lake Guntersville.
Her tournament total of 50 pounds, 0 ounces gave her a wide margin of victory over Judy Wong of Many, La., who moved up the leaderboard from 18th on Day 1 to 8th on Day 2, then finished in second with 41-11.
The first-place prize was a Triton/Mercury boat rig worth $50,000.
Richardson’s two previous wins were last season. But since her most recent win — Bull Shoals Lake in August 2006 — her fishing game’s been suffering: eighth in a field of 12 at the WBT 2006 Championship in February; 17th at this season’s WBT stop No. 1, Lake Amistad in Texas; and 20th at stop No. 2, Lake Dardanelle in her home state of Arkansas.
“Sometimes when you do badly, it lights the fire in you to hustle,” said the 35-year-old winner. “I didn’t start out this year as I wanted to, so I needed this.”
Despite boat trouble that cost her three hours of fishing on the first day of competition, Richardson started strong at Guntersville. She ended the first day, Thursday, in third place with 16-0. Friday she inched up into second place, again with a catch of 16-0. Her final-day bag — five fish that weighed 18-0 — clinched the win.
Richardson said she keyed in on Lake Guntersville’s humps with a Carolina rig that included a 10-inch green-pumpkin Zoom worm and 3/4-ounce Tru-Tungsten weight.
The win boosted her standing in the Toyota WBT Angler of the Year race from 12th to fourth place, behind Sheri Glasgow of Muskogee, Okla., who stayed at the top; Pam Martin-Wells of Bainbridge, Ga., who retained the second-place spot; and Juanita Robinson of Highlands, Texas, who moved to up one notch into third.
“Sheri’s leading, and she’s so consistent, so getting ahead in points is tough,” said Richardson, who lost the 2006 Angler of the Year title by 3 ounces to Dianna Clark of Bumpus Mills, Tenn.
Second-place holder Wong, who moved up to tie for sixth in the points standings with Clark, scored her best WBT finish to date.
“I think I’m more focused now, more willing to make changes and trust my intuition,” said Wong, a 55-year-old who guides on Toledo Bend when she’s not competing.
She said that on Lake Guntersville, her go-to lure was a cinnamon, purple-flake Yamamoto lizard on a Carolina rig she worked in shallow grass next to spawning beds. She also used a Senko plastic.
In the co-angler division, the winner was Karol Whitehurst of Winnsboro, Texas, with 37 pounds, 9 ounces. Whitehurst, a 50-year-old X-ray technician, took home a $1,000 check and a Triton/Mercury rig valued at $25,000. The Saturday win was her best showing to date in a BASS event.
Whitehurst said she was drop-shotting the same bait all three days: a Zoom finesse worm in a watermelon, purple-flake finish.
“I tried throwing other baits a few times, but I just didn’t have confidence in them, so went back to the drop-shot rig and the finesse worm,” said Whitehurst, who moved up into the winner’s spot after holding fifth place for two days.
The co-angler who took second was Virginia Buckner of Scottsboro, Ala., whose total weight was 30-4. Behind her was Laura Elkins of Amarillo, Texas, with 29-13; Sharon Withers of Sam Rayburn, Texas, with 27-6; and Elizabeth Sanders of Brandon, Miss., with 25-12.
The next stop for the Mercury Marine Women’s Bassmaster Tour presented by Triton Boats is Kentucky Lake in Gilbertsville, Ky., June 14-16.
To view related photos from the Guntersville event, click here.
Mercury Marine Women’s Bassmaster Tour presented by Triton Boats
Stop No. 3 of 2007 season
Lake Guntersville
Guntersville, Ala.
May 3-5
Day 3 Big Bass
Pro: Judy Wong, Many, La., 5-14
Co-angler: Karol Whitehurst, Winnsboro, Texas, 6-6
Field
94 pros, 94 co-anglers
Cut to top 25 after Day 2
Launch and Weigh-in
5:45 a.m./2:10 p.m. CDT
Lake Guntersville State Park
7966 AL Highway 227
Guntersville, AL 35976
Local sponsors
Local sponsors include the Guntersville Chamber of Commerce, Lake Guntersville State Park, Holiday Inn of Guntersville, Covenant Cove Lodge of Guntersville, Jameson Inn Albertville and Microtel Inn of Albertville.
Women’s Bassmaster Tour sponsors
Mercury Marine, Triton Boats, Lowrance Electronics, MotorGuide, Advance Auto Parts and Plano
BASS is the worldwide authority on bass fishing, sanctioning more than 20,000 events through the BASS Federation Nation annually. Guided by its mission to serve all fishing fans, BASS sets the standard for credibility, professionalism, sportsmanship and conservation, as it has for nearly 40 years.
BASS stages bass fishing tournaments for every skill level and culminates with the Bassmaster Classic. Through its clubs, youth programs, aquatic resource advocacy, magazine publishing and multimedia platforms, BASS offers the industry's widest array of services and support to its nearly 530,000 members. The organization is headquartered in Celebration, Fla.
For more information, contact BASS Communications at (407) 566-2208 or visit www.bassmaster.com.
2007 Women's Bassmaster Tour Stop 3 BO 05/03-05/05 Guntersville Lake, Guntersville Ala.
(BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Tammy Richardson Amity, Ark. 15 50-00 305 $50,000.00
Day 1: 5 16-00 Day 2: 5 16-00 Day 3: 5 18-00
2. Judy Wong Many, La. 14 41-11 295 $6,200.00
Day 1: 4 9-06 Day 2: 5 14-01 Day 3: 5 18-04
3. Audrey McQueen Canon City, Colo. 11 40-01 295 $3,680.00
Day 1: 4 15-05 Day 2: 5 17-07 Day 3: 2 7-05
4. Cindy Hill Smyrna, Tenn. 14 39-12 290 $2,180.00
Day 1: 5 17-04 Day 2: 5 12-07 Day 3: 4 10-01
5. Sheri Glasgow Muskogee, Okla. 13 39-03 280 $1,930.00
Day 1: 5 13-15 Day 2: 4 12-15 Day 3: 4 12-05
6. Pam Martin-Wells Bainbridge, Ga. 12 35-10 276 $1,700.00
Day 1: 3 8-12 Day 2: 5 15-06 Day 3: 4 11-08
7. Rhonda Pope Waco, Ga. 11 34-11 270 $1,575.00
Day 1: 2 6-15 Day 2: 4 10-11 Day 3: 5 17-01
7. Kathy Womack Trussville, Ala. 11 34-11 270 $1,575.00
Day 1: 4 12-08 Day 2: 4 13-02 Day 3: 3 9-01
9. Lucy Mize Ben Lomond, Ark. 13 32-12 264 $1,500.00
Day 1: 3 7-09 Day 2: 5 14-04 Day 3: 5 10-15
10. Sandi Karnes Livingston, Texas 10 31-11 260 $1,450.00
Day 1: 5 15-05 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 5 16-06
11. Dianna Clark Bumpus Mills, Tenn. 9 30-00 257 $1,400.00
Day 1: 5 17-01 Day 2: 3 7-07 Day 3: 1 5-08
12. Connie Buckner Scottsboro, Ala. 10 28-03 254 $1,350.00
Day 1: 4 12-04 Day 2: 4 9-01 Day 3: 2 6-14
13. Marcia Rubin Chagrin Falls, Ohio 12 27-14 251 $1,300.00
Day 1: 3 5-12 Day 2: 4 11-05 Day 3: 5 10-13
14. Jamie Patrick Dawsonville, Ga. 11 27-00 248 $1,200.00
Day 1: 4 10-01 Day 2: 4 10-09 Day 3: 3 6-06
15. Kay Pennington Pineville, La. 12 26-05 245 $1,150.00
Day 1: 3 7-04 Day 2: 5 10-00 Day 3: 4 9-01
16. Angie Douthit Clewiston, Fla. 9 26-02 243 $1,100.00
Day 1: 3 7-15 Day 2: 2 7-06 Day 3: 4 10-13
17. Jo Dee Bucki Bessemer, Ala. 10 24-07 241 $1,050.00
Day 1: 4 9-10 Day 2: 3 7-12 Day 3: 3 7-01
18. Bonnie Johnson Weatherford, Texas 10 24-01 239 $1,000.00
Day 1: 5 10-12 Day 2: 2 6-00 Day 3: 3 7-05
19. Tammie Muse North Little Rock, Ark 9 23-10 237 $1,950.00
Day 1: 2 4-05 Day 2: 5 15-03 Day 3: 2 4-02
20. Debra Hengst San Antonio, Texas 8 22-13 235 $900.00
Day 1: 3 8-07 Day 2: 4 11-06 Day 3: 1 3-00
21. Patti Campbell Waxahachie, Texas 7 22-07 233 $850.00
Day 1: 2 7-05 Day 2: 5 15-02 Day 3: 0 0-00
22. Linda Sands Cullman, Ala. 9 22-06 231 $800.00
Day 1: 4 11-07 Day 2: 4 8-10 Day 3: 1 2-05
23. Robinette Fox Hot Springs, Ark. 9 21-09 229 $750.00
Day 1: 2 5-11 Day 2: 5 11-11 Day 3: 2 4-03
24. Keri Schieber Cumming, Ga. 9 20-06 227 $700.00
Day 1: 4 9-15 Day 2: 3 5-14 Day 3: 2 4-09
25. Diane Phillips Tyler, Texas 7 19-15 225 $650.00
Day 1: 2 8-00 Day 2: 3 7-09 Day 3: 2 4-06
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Purolator Big Bass
Day
1 Kali Weatherford Athens, Texas 6-10 $1,000.00
2 Tammie Muse North Little Rock, Ark. 6-05 $1,000.00
3 Judy Wong Many, La. 5-14 $1,000.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 7 178 506-05
2 11 194 522-05
3 6 77 217-04
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24 449 1245-14
2007 Women's Bassmaster Tour Stop 3 NB 05/03-05/05 Guntersville Lake, Guntersville Ala.
(NON-BOATER) Standings Day 3
Angler Hometown No./lbs-oz Pts Total $$$
1. Karol Whitehurst Winnsboro, Texas 13 37-09 305 $26,500.00
Day 1: 5 11-02 Day 2: 3 6-09 Day 3: 5 19-14
2. Virginia Buckner Scottsboro, Ala. 11 30-04 300 $3,200.00
Day 1: 5 13-04 Day 2: 4 12-12 Day 3: 2 4-04
3. Laura Elkins Amarillo, Texas 11 29-13 290 $2,180.00
Day 1: 2 4-08 Day 2: 4 9-04 Day 3: 5 16-01
4. Sharon Withers Sam Rayburn, Texas 10 27-06 285 $1,680.00
Day 1: 3 8-07 Day 2: 2 4-13 Day 3: 5 14-02
5. Elizabeth Sanders Brandon, Miss. 9 25-12 285 $1,180.00
Day 1: 5 14-09 Day 2: 3 7-14 Day 3: 1 3-05
6. Tabitha Rudd Cusseta, Ala. 8 25-00 276 $900.00
Day 1: 3 10-10 Day 2: 1 2-02 Day 3: 4 12-04
7. Bonnie Ward Snohomish, Wash. 10 23-02 272 $850.00
Day 1: 3 6-03 Day 2: 3 5-12 Day 3: 4 11-03
8. Phyllis Free Flowery Branch, Ga. 8 23-01 268 $800.00
Day 1: 1 3-07 Day 2: 5 15-04 Day 3: 2 4-06
9. Lesa Brown Harrison, Ark. 6 22-03 264 $775.00
Day 1: 2 6-13 Day 2: 3 10-11 Day 3: 1 4-11
10. Kim Stapp Ringgold, Ga. 8 20-13 260 $750.00
Day 1: 3 6-05 Day 2: 2 6-14 Day 3: 3 7-10
11. Jan Hudson Harrison, Ark. 6 19-01 257 $725.00
Day 1: 4 13-11 Day 2: 2 5-06 Day 3: 0 0-00
12. Cheryl Holloway Pollock, La. 7 17-08 254 $700.00
Day 1: 3 7-10 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 4 9-14
13. Bertha Cavakis Amity, Ark. 6 16-04 251 $675.00
Day 1: 2 4-10 Day 2: 2 5-02 Day 3: 2 6-08
14. Toni Mode Eagle Creek, Ore. 6 15-05 248 $650.00
Day 1: 2 4-01 Day 2: 4 11-04 Day 3: 0 0-00
15. Sherry Melton Monterey, Tenn. 6 14-13 244 $612.50
Day 1: 2 5-06 Day 2: 2 5-06 Day 3: 2 4-01
15. Crystal Langston Leighton, Ala. 3 14-13 244 $612.50
Day 1: 2 12-06 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 1 2-07
17. Kala Wright Pocola, Okla. 6 14-03 241 $575.00
Day 1: 2 5-04 Day 2: 4 8-15 Day 3: 0 0-00
18. Teresa Lolley Hayden, Ala. 7 14-02 239 $550.00
Day 1: 2 5-02 Day 2: 3 5-00 Day 3: 2 4-00
19. BJ Carson Inola, Okla. 6 13-11 237 $525.00
Day 1: 0 0-00 Day 2: 4 9-05 Day 3: 2 4-06
20. Angela Mitchell Keswick, Canada 5 12-14 235 $500.00
Day 1: 1 3-01 Day 2: 3 7-02 Day 3: 1 2-11
21. Diane Smith Fayetteville, Ga. 4 12-12 233 $475.00
Day 1: 2 6-07 Day 2: 1 3-11 Day 3: 1 2-10
22. Bridget Allen Philadelphia, Pa. 5 12-05 231 $450.00
Day 1: 4 10-05 Day 2: 0 0-00 Day 3: 1 2-00
23. Brenda Reeves Arlington, Texas 4 11-07 229 $425.00
Day 1: 2 6-13 Day 2: 1 2-10 Day 3: 1 2-00
24. Dianne Kegley Norphlet, Ark. 4 10-11 227 $400.00
Day 1: 1 2-00 Day 2: 2 6-15 Day 3: 1 1-12
25. Kim Martin Clayton, Ind. 3 9-12 225 $350.00
Day 1: 1 3-03 Day 2: 2 6-09 Day 3: 0 0-00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Purolator Big Bass
Day
1 Linda Berry Madison, N.C. 6-12 $500.00
2 Kim Tucker Red Bay, Ala. 6-09 $500.00
3 Karol Whitehurst Winnsboro, Texas 6-06 $500.00
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Totals
Day #Limits #Fish Weight
1 5 95 265-14
2 8 99 256-03
3 1 50 140-01
----------------------------------
14 244 662-02
2007 Women's Bassmaster - Womens Bassmaster Tour Stop 3 Boater Points After Guntersville Lake, Guntersville, Ala. Ending 05-05-2007, Day 3
-------------------------------------------
Place Name St Pts
-------------------------------------------
1 Sheri Glasgow Okla. 885
2 Pam Martin-Wells Ga. 851
3 Juanita Robinson Texas 807
4 Tammy Richardson Ark. 781
5 Audrey McQueen Colo. 764
6 Dianna Clark Tenn. 762
6 Judy Wong La. 762
8 Lucy Mize Ark. 738
9 Lynda Gessner Mo. 725
10 Cindy Hill Tenn. 718
11 Patti Campbell Texas 715
12 Debra Hengst Texas 714
13 Penny Berryman Ark. 682
14 Secret York Ky. 679
15 Robinette Fox Ark. 674
16 Christie Thomas Ala. 660
17 Tammie Muse Ark. 655
18 Mary Hencken N.C. 650
19 Jamie Patrick Ga. 638
20 Kathy Womack Ala. 633
21 Tami Kashiwabara Japan 632
22 Christiana Bradley Va. 628
23 Kathi Hurst Miss. 627
24 Karla Bullard Texas 618
25 Teri Neal Ga. 610
25 Bonnie Johnson Texas 610
27 Kay Pennington La. 609
28 Ann Wells Ill. 593
29 Marcia Rubin Ohio 587
30 Linda Sands Ala. 584
31 Lisa Sternard Tenn. 580
32 Mary DiVincenti La. 578
33 Laura Moore Texas 577
34 Jan Heavener Ark. 576
35 Emily Shaffer Tenn. 573
36 Betty Stahl Ala. 554
37 Joan Davis Ind. 549
38 Sarah Augustine La. 544
39 Robin Babb Texas 541
40 Laura Gober Ga. 539
41 Sandi Karnes Texas 538
42 Kelley Shepherd Colo. 534
43 Cindy Van Horn Texas 528
44 Tanya Kreuzer Ariz. 527
45 Robin McFarlane Texas 526
46 Marsha Gipson Ark. 518
47 Sue Parrish Ind. 512
48 Angie Douthit Fla. 509
49 Kali Weatherford Texas 505
50 Jo Dee Bucki Ala. 496
51 Melanie Rockey Ga. 494
52 Cindy Caperton Tenn. 492
53 Kandie Candelaria Texas 478
54 Laura Heflin Kan. 477
55 Kathy Cater Texas 476
56 Lisa Johnson Ga. 464
57 Linda Redford Mo. 457
58 Deanie Tate Ark. 453
59 Rhonda Pope Ga. 447
60 Rose Ellis Ala. 438
60 Debra Petrowski Texas 438
62 Diane Phillips Texas 437
62 Madeline Smith Ark. 437
62 Michelle Armstrong N.C. 437
65 Pam Pope Texas 410
66 Cheryl LaLumandier Mo. 407
67 Keri Schieber Ga. 400
68 Christena Baugh Ark. 393
69 Susan Gregory Miss. 390
70 Pat White Texas 388
71 Helen Gordon Texas 385
72 Kellie Skelton N.M. 380
73 Lisa Craig Texas 367
74 Kathy Riley Miss. 364
75 Janet Parker Texas 362
76 Kris McClendon Texas 359
77 Darla Bardelli Ariz. 353
78 Lori Masters Tenn. 350
79 Robin Lefler Va. 346
80 Danalee Lofton Ark. 335
81 Becky McKinney Fla. 333
82 Billie Jaynes Texas 324
83 Kristy Darby Ark. 321
84 Mary Croft Va. 309
85 Cheryl Allen Texas 307
86 Karen Roberts Ala. 286
87 Kimberlee Striker Ala. 284
88 Debbie Kemp Texas 278
89 Rhonda Usery Ark. 266
90 Joan Craig Ark. 257
91 Connie Buckner Ala. 254
92 Jennifer Stelly La. 252
93 Gail Criswell Texas 229
94 Mickie Wolfinbarger Mo. 219
95 Kathy Magers Texas 209
96 Dana Davis Ala. 207
97 Sharon Waldo Ark. 191
98 Sandy Sherred Pa. 189
99 Donna Newberry Ark. 186
100 Susan Hand Ala. 168
101 Linda Walker Ark. 167
101 Pam Ridgle Texas 167
103 Cheryl Spencer Okla. 165
104 Wanda Malmsbury Mo. 147
105 Debra Cunningham Ariz. 139
106 Jen Carroll Texas 133
107 Judy Vancanneyt Ala. 130
108 Lila Bass Texas 123
109 Carolyn Poole Fla. 117
110 Violette Sesco Fla. 114
111 Cheryl Crafton Ky. 113
112 Paula Alexander Ga. 109
113 Julie Jacobson Wisc. 99
114 Robyn Gist Tenn. 89
115 Louise Howard Ala. 0
115 Sharri Brazzel Ariz. 0
115 Toni Corpe Calif. 0
2007 Women's Bassmaster - Womens Bassmaster Tour Stop 3 Boater Points After Guntersville Lake, Guntersville, Ala. Ending 05-05-2007, Day 3
-------------------------------------------
Place Name St Pts
-------------------------------------------
1 Sheri Glasgow Okla. 885
2 Pam Martin-Wells Ga. 851
3 Juanita Robinson Texas 807
4 Tammy Richardson Ark. 781
5 Audrey McQueen Colo. 764
6 Dianna Clark Tenn. 762
6 Judy Wong La. 762
8 Lucy Mize Ark. 738
9 Lynda Gessner Mo. 725
10 Cindy Hill Tenn. 718
11 Patti Campbell Texas 715
12 Debra Hengst Texas 714
13 Penny Berryman Ark. 682
14 Secret York Ky. 679
15 Robinette Fox Ark. 674
16 Christie Thomas Ala. 660
17 Tammie Muse Ark. 655
18 Mary Hencken N.C. 650
19 Jamie Patrick Ga. 638
20 Kathy Womack Ala. 633
21 Tami Kashiwabara Japan 632
22 Christiana Bradley Va. 628
23 Kathi Hurst Miss. 627
24 Karla Bullard Texas 618
25 Teri Neal Ga. 610
25 Bonnie Johnson Texas 610
27 Kay Pennington La. 609
28 Ann Wells Ill. 593
29 Marcia Rubin Ohio 587
30 Linda Sands Ala. 584
31 Lisa Sternard Tenn. 580
32 Mary DiVincenti La. 578
33 Laura Moore Texas 577
34 Jan Heavener Ark. 576
35 Emily Shaffer Tenn. 573
36 Betty Stahl Ala. 554
37 Joan Davis Ind. 549
38 Sarah Augustine La. 544
39 Robin Babb Texas 541
40 Laura Gober Ga. 539
41 Sandi Karnes Texas 538
42 Kelley Shepherd Colo. 534
43 Cindy Van Horn Texas 528
44 Tanya Kreuzer Ariz. 527
45 Robin McFarlane Texas 526
46 Marsha Gipson Ark. 518
47 Sue Parrish Ind. 512
48 Angie Douthit Fla. 509
49 Kali Weatherford Texas 505
50 Jo Dee Bucki Ala. 496
51 Melanie Rockey Ga. 494
52 Cindy Caperton Tenn. 492
53 Kandie Candelaria Texas 478
54 Laura Heflin Kan. 477
55 Kathy Cater Texas 476
56 Lisa Johnson Ga. 464
57 Linda Redford Mo. 457
58 Deanie Tate Ark. 453
59 Rhonda Pope Ga. 447
60 Rose Ellis Ala. 438
60 Debra Petrowski Texas 438
62 Diane Phillips Texas 437
62 Madeline Smith Ark. 437
62 Michelle Armstrong N.C. 437
65 Pam Pope Texas 410
66 Cheryl LaLumandier Mo. 407
67 Keri Schieber Ga. 400
68 Christena Baugh Ark. 393
69 Susan Gregory Miss. 390
70 Pat White Texas 388
71 Helen Gordon Texas 385
72 Kellie Skelton N.M. 380
73 Lisa Craig Texas 367
74 Kathy Riley Miss. 364
75 Janet Parker Texas 362
76 Kris McClendon Texas 359
77 Darla Bardelli Ariz. 353
78 Lori Masters Tenn. 350
79 Robin Lefler Va. 346
80 Danalee Lofton Ark. 335
81 Becky McKinney Fla. 333
82 Billie Jaynes Texas 324
83 Kristy Darby Ark. 321
84 Mary Croft Va. 309
85 Cheryl Allen Texas 307
86 Karen Roberts Ala. 286
87 Kimberlee Striker Ala. 284
88 Debbie Kemp Texas 278
89 Rhonda Usery Ark. 266
90 Joan Craig Ark. 257
91 Connie Buckner Ala. 254
92 Jennifer Stelly La. 252
93 Gail Criswell Texas 229
94 Mickie Wolfinbarger Mo. 219
95 Kathy Magers Texas 209
96 Dana Davis Ala. 207
97 Sharon Waldo Ark. 191
98 Sandy Sherred Pa. 189
99 Donna Newberry Ark. 186
100 Susan Hand Ala. 168
101 Linda Walker Ark. 167
101 Pam Ridgle Texas 167
103 Cheryl Spencer Okla. 165
104 Wanda Malmsbury Mo. 147
105 Debra Cunningham Ariz. 139
106 Jen Carroll Texas 133
107 Judy Vancanneyt Ala. 130
108 Lila Bass Texas 123
109 Carolyn Poole Fla. 117
110 Violette Sesco Fla. 114
111 Cheryl Crafton Ky. 113
112 Paula Alexander Ga. 109
113 Julie Jacobson Wisc. 99
114 Robyn Gist Tenn. 89
115 Louise Howard Ala. 0
115 Sharri Brazzel Ariz. 0
115 Toni Corpe Calif. 0