Pirch Still Leads U.s. Open

2014 WON Bass US Open Day Two Leader Clifford Pirch Explains his Day to emcee Billy Egan – photo by Dan O’Sullivan

Las Vegas, Nev. – September 9, 2014 – Sometimes a little stumble is not as disastrous as one might think. Clifford Pirch, who presented a 15.49-pound limit to the scales on Monday’s first day was not able to keep the torrid pace that he came out of the gates with on day two. However, his daily weight that came in at around half of his first day’s weight was enough to keep him in the lead headed into the final day of the 2014 The WON Bass Nitro Boats / Mercury U.S. Open.

Pirch managed to produce only 7.48 pounds from Lake Mead today, but his lead; which had been nearly four pounds, still remains a steady two pounds over second place pro Zack Holwerda of Phoenix, Ariz.

Pirch said that he had planned to run new water, and made a decision to switch up altogether again in the morning. “I had an area in mind when I set out this morning, but then changed and decided to stay closer and I didn’t quite get the bites I thought I would,” he said. “The weather slicked off and we didn’t get the amount of breeze that we expected and it made the bite a little tougher for me.”

That doesn’t mean that the two-time U.S. Open champion is completely panicked. “I’ve got an area that was a key piece in my strategy for this tournament,” he said. “I haven’t gone to it yet and I’m pretty sure nobody else has found it. I’m going to go there tomorrow, and hopefully I didn’t leave too much room on the table today for someone else to sneak in.”

Holwerda managed to produce a 12.29-pound limit today to increase his total weight to 21.02 pounds; which vaulted him all the way to second place. He said the difference for him was execution. “I’ve been catching the quality fish here that I needed throughout practice, but yesterday I lost a few that mattered,” he said. “I’ve been able to duplicate this pattern over all of the different conditions we’ve had, but I like the calmer weather and I’m hoping that it will play into my hands tomorrow again.”

Brett Leber, who was in second place after day one slipped as well, but managed to stay in third place with a total weight of 20.37 pounds. he is followed in fourth place by U.S. Open rookie Doug Jones who had a 12-pund day himself and raised his total to 19.92 pounds. In fifth place is former FLW Tour pro Gabe Bolivar who pushed his weight to 18.88 pounds.

The AAA side saw Las Vegas resident Dale Howard take the lead with 20.35 pounds. Chris Faeling of Pioche, Nev. stands in second with 19.73 pounds, followed in third by Riverton, Utah angler Tom Nokes with 19.67 pounds, fourth place angler Bobby Steele from Goodyear, Ariz. with 19.18, and day one leader Robert Slack Jr. of Pahrump, Nev. fell to fifth with 18.93 pounds.

The final day of The WON Bass Nitro Boats / Mercury U.S. Open takeoff will begin at Callville Bay Marina on the shores of Lake Mead Wednesday with takeoff starting at 5:45AM Pacific Time. The final day’s weigh-in will start at 2:00PM. Following the event’s conclusion, a champion will be crowned at Boulder Station Casino the final evening of the event and will be broadcast live at 7:00PM.

Costa See What’s Out There Live event coverage will begin following tournament take off with hourly updates at 9:00AM, 10:00AM and 11:00AM each day, followed by weigh-in coverage beginning at 2:00PM and finally a 7:00PM post game show; all show times are Pacific Standard Time and can be viewed at www.wonbass.com.

The WON Bass Nitro Boats / Mercury Marine U.S. Open Live Webcast is presented by Costa Sunglasses, the event is also brought to you by Nitro Boats, Mercury Outboards, Costa Sunglasses, Bass Pro Shops, Bridgford Foods, Daiwa, Seaguar, Plano Molding, Cousins Tackle, YoZuri, Pro Mar, Eagle Claw TroKar, Lowrance, St.Croix Rods, Frabill, Okuma, Gary Yamamoto Custom Baits, Reactor, Zip Baits, Big Hammer, Fishing for Adoption, Global Fish Mounts, A&M Graphics, Savage Gear and Storm

2014 U.S. Open Day Two Standings – Pro Division

Place

Name

Hometown

Weight

Penalty

Big Fish

Total

1

Clifford Pirch

Payson AZ

23.07

6.49

23.07

2

Zack Holwerda

Phoenix AZ

21.02

4.47

21.02

3

Brett Allen Leber

Dixon CA

20.37

4.03

20.37

4

Douglas Jones

North Las vegas NV

19.92

0.2

2.12

19.72

5

Gabe Bolivar

Ramona CA

18.88

18.88

6

Tony Lain

Menifee CA

18.74

2.22

18.74

7

Todd Woods

San Dimas CA

18.66

2.86

18.66

8

Donnie Scroggins

Kingman AZ

18.77

0.2

3.12

18.57

9

Pete Marino

Moreno Valley CA

17.77

0.2

2.44

17.57

10

Luke Clausen

Spokane, WA

17.42

17.42

11

Kyle Grover

Trabuco Canyon CA

17.41

0.2

2.18

17.21

12

Bill Brown

Grand Junction CO

17.2

3.16

17.2

13

Scott Canterbury

Springville, AL

17.05

2.83

17.05

14

Chris Bozarth

Henderson NV

16.96

2.82

16.96

15

John Morrow

Brea CA

16.87

3.25

16.87

16

Jesse Slaton

Klamath Falls OR

16.81

16.81

17

Jay Yelas

Carvallis OR

16.74

2.92

16.74

18

Johnny Johnson

Lakeside AZ

16.67

16.67

18

Joe Uribe, Jr.

Surprise AZ

16.67

2.7

16.67

20

Scott Davis

Preston ID

16.82

0.2

16.62

21

Brent James

St George UT

16.58

2.77

16.58

22

Shawn Lee

Arroyo Grande CA

16.47

0.2

2.93

16.27

23

Cody Spetz

Menifee CA

16.21

0.2

2.47

16.01

24

Garrett Howard

Riverside CA

16.12

0.2

15.92

25

John Murray

Phoenix AZ

15.89

3.72

15.89

26

Andrew Napoleon

Mesa AZ

15.99

0.2

15.79

27

Joseph Raftery

Las Vegas NV

15.68

2.52

15.68

28

Douglas Minor

Riverside CA

15.62

15.62

29

Kevin Stewart

Elk Grove CA

15.55

15.55

30

Chris Kinley

Lake Havasu City AZ

15.51

3.79

15.51

31

Zachary Elrite

San Jose CA

15.66

0.2

3.33

15.46

32

Jamie Shaw

Coolidge AZ

14.95

3.13

14.95

33

Rusty Salewske

Alpine CA

14.9

14.9

34

Chris Studinger

San Marcos CA

14.88

2.29

14.88

34

Tommy Jonovich

Phoenix AZ

14.88

14.88

36

Gary Pinholster

Lake Havasu City AZ

14.87

4.84

14.87

37

Daniel Price II

San Diego CA

14.83

14.83

38

Randy Blaukat

Joplin MO

14.77

14.77

39

Ray Arbesu

Henderson NV

15.16

0.4

2.79

14.76

40

Robert Lee

Altaville CA

14.7

14.7

41

Jim Jared

Dolan Springs AZ

14.69

3.49

14.69

42

Jimmy Reese

Ukiah CA

14.55

14.55

43

Jim Moynagh

Carver MN

14.54

14.54

44

Wade Strelic

El Cajon CA

14.48

14.48

45

Keith Espe

Phoenix AZ

14.38

3.33

14.38

46

Philip Roesener

Parowan UT

14.34

4.16

14.34

47

Cody Compton

Palisade CO

14.18

3.8

14.18

48

Gunnar Stanton

Boulder City NV

14.15

14.15

48

Dick Watson

Alta Loma CA

14.15

3.37

14.15

50

Todd Herman

Gilbert AZ

14.08

14.08

51

Cody Meyer

Grass Valley CA

14.07

14.07

52

Bill O’Shinn

Bakersfield CA

14.26

0.2

3.47

14.06

53

Neil Flores

Menifee CA

14.04

2.3

14.04

54

Scott Helleson

Whittier CA

13.95

13.95

55

Paul Hodges

Glendale AZ

14.07

0.2

13.87

56

Kona Borja

Henderson NV

13.67

3.69

13.67

57

Marco Valdez

Richland WA

13.59

13.59

58

Gary Dobyns

Live Oak CA

13.56

13.56

59

Michael McLernon

Oceanside CA

13.46

2.64

13.46

60

John Noble

Adair Village OR

13.45

3.68

13.45

61

Jon Griffith

Mesa AZ

13.44

13.44

62

Adam East

San Diego CA

13.62

0.2

13.42

63

Jay Guterding

Redding CA

13.2

13.2

64

John Mackey

Boulder City NV

13.36

0.2

13.16

65

Ryan Kjellberg

Yucaipa CA

12.95

12.95

66

Tom Leedom

Escondido CA

12.93

12.93

67

George Kramer

Lake Elsinore CA

13.04

0.2

2.1

12.84

68

Sean Coffey

Mesa AZ

12.77

12.77

68

Roy Hawk

Lake Havasu City AZ

13.17

0.4

12.77

68

Ricky Shabazz

Rialto CA

12.77

12.77

71

Gary Freeman

Las Vegas NV

12.65

12.65

72

Keith Beever

Mission Viejo CA

12.84

0.2

12.64

73

Rob Erautt

Yucaipa CA

12.54

12.54

74

Steven Bowlin

Coolidge AZ

12.49

12.49

75

Andy Manahl

Mesa AZ

12.32

2.76

12.32

76

Mike Brillhart

Waddell AZ

12.48

0.2

12.28

77

Josh Rhodes

Lake Havasu City AZ

12.25

12.25

78

Mark Rauenzahn

San Diego CA

12.15

5.65

12.15

78

William “Billy” Skinner

Carlsbad CA

12.35

0.2

12.15

80

Kevin Caruso

Glendale AZ

12.32

0.2

12.12

81

Guy Savidan

Yorba Linda CA

12.02

12.02

82

Jiggs Benn

Myrtle Creek OR

11.86

11.86

83

Klayton Belden

El Cajon CA

11.76

11.76

84

Jeff Rutt

Winchester CA

11.68

11.68

85

Kody “Bucky” Leigh

Yuma AZ

11.55

11.55

86

Ben Byrd

Moab UT

11.52

11.52

87

Danny Moraga

Hesperia CA

11.69

0.2

1.99

11.49

88

Kevin Gross

Claremont CA

11.56

0.2

3.3

11.36

89

Mike Folkestad

Villa Park CA

11.34

11.34

90

Dave Wendrich

Elko NV

11.32

11.32

91

Marco Fenelli

San Diego CA

11.27

2.26

11.27

92

Jeffrey Scott Allen

Flagstaff AZ

11.13

3.78

11.13

92

Ken Whalen

Lompoc CA

11.13

11.13

94

Josh Bertrand

Gilbert AZ

11.09

11.09

95

Travis Richards

Henderson NV

11.02

11.02

96

Jason Borofka

Salinas CA

10.91

10.91

97

Shaun Bailey

Lake Havasu City AZ

10.74

10.74

98

Murray White

Glendale AZ

10.65

10.65

99

Brent Becker

Henderson NV

10.59

10.59

100

Marvin Barellano

Monterey Park CA

10.5

2.15

10.5

101

Don Iovino

Burbank CA

10.45

10.45

102

Mike Caruso

Peoria AZ

10.4

10.4

103

John Weisfuss

Oxnard CA

10.48

0.4

10.08

104

Mike Rennie

Pioche NV

10.21

0.2

10.01

105

Ed Arledge

Valley Center CA

9.86

9.86

106

Elliott Holsbo

Lakeside CA

9.81

9.81

107

David Kemper

Tempe AZ

9.97

0.2

9.77

108

Rich Tauber

Camarillo CA

9.69

9.69

109

Peter Manfrina

Lompoc CA

9.67

9.67

110

Don Gage

Grizzly Flats CA

9.64

9.64

110

Chris Gosselaar

Clovis CA

9.64

3.72

9.64

112

Ernie Stumpf

Carrollton TX

9.57

9.57

113

Matt Shura

Gilbert AZ

9.76

0.2

9.56

114

Jamie Cyphers

Cedar City UT

9.54

9.54

115

Michael Phua

Chino CA

9.72

0.2

9.52

116

Rusty Brown

Tustin CA

9.42

9.42

117

Steve Pool

Weldon CA

9.37

2.78

9.37

118

Oscar Torrado

Mira Loma CA

9.34

9.34

119

Raymond Archer

Greeley CO

9.3

9.3

120

Jim Hawkes

Apache Junction AZ

9.46

0.2

9.26

121

Devin McDonald

Las Vegas NV

9.19

9.19

122

Stephen Pike

Las Vegas NV

9.11

9.11

123

Josh Polfer

Nampa ID

9

9

124

Steve Molinari

Waddell AZ

8.82

0.2

8.62

125

Mark Lassagne

San Ramon CA

8.57

8.57

126

Edward John

Tustin CA

8.56

8.56

127

Travis Jewell

Sandy UT

8.69

0.2

8.49

128

Cody Murray

Nampa ID

8.39

8.39

129

Brian Carnahan

Flagstaff AZ

8.57

0.2

8.37

130

Randy Estrada, M.D.

Corona CA

8.36

8.36

131

Matt Nadeau

Grass Valley CA

8.27

8.27

132

Tony Richards

Oceanside CA

8.13

8.13

133

Bill Griffith

Ventura CA

8.07

8.07

134

Clayton Meyer

Henderson NV

8.06

8.06

135

Kenichi Tanaka

Minamikawachigun

8

8

136

Mark Poe

Coolidge AZ

7.89

7.89

137

Justin Hanold

Poway CA

7.88

7.88

138

Claude Sims

Boerne TX

7.83

7.83

139

Wade Headrick

Herriman UT

7.74

7.74

140

Jim Elliott

Redding CA

7.6

7.6

141

Tom Lowery

Santee CA

7.47

2.89

7.47

142

Justin Patti

Phoenix AZ

7.46

7.46

143

Don McBride

Roosevelt AZ

7.55

0.2

7.35

144

Bobby Lanham

Cave Creek AZ

7.27

7.27

144

Vern Ridgway

Chandler AZ

7.27

7.27

146

Norman Santos

Rosamond CA

6.93

6.93

147

Keith Ferlanie

Henderson NV

6.71

6.71

148

Fred Krumsiek

Glendale AZ

6.58

6.58

149

Mooseok Park

6.48

6.48

150

Sam Rosefsky

6.25

6.25

151

Billy Hines

Vacaville CA

6.24

6.24

152

Ron Hammett

La Mesa CA

5.9

5.9

153

Larry Triplett

Aurora CO

5.12

5.12

154

Michael Rigney

Janesville CA

4.97

2.41

4.97

155

Dylan Maxon

Phoenix AZ

4.27

4.27

156

Robert Schoessler

Henderson NV

4.07

4.07

157

Melvin Williams

Chula Vista CA

3.9

3.9

158

Chris Morris

Wingman AZ

3.58

3.58

159

Bill Craig

Ivins UT

3.09

1.91

3.09

160

Anthony Tatzel

Kingman AZ

2.92

2.92

161

Neil Campbell

Mirrietta CA

2.3

2.3

162

Timothy Irwin

LaVerne CA

2.2

2.2

163

Ed Shaver

Lake Havasu City AZ

1.27

1.27

164

Jason Burchfield

Las Vegas NV

1.11

1.11

165

Steve Gibson

Las Vegas NV

0

0

165

Young “Bradley” Yang

0

0

2014 U.S. Open Day Two Standings – AAA Division

Place

Name

Hometown

Weight

Penalty

Big Fish

Total

1

Dale Howard

Las Vegas NV

20.35

3.8

20.35

2

Chris Faehling

Pioche NV

19.73

5.52

19.73

3

Tom Nokes

Riverton UT

19.67

2.2

19.67

4

Bobby Steele

Goodyear AZ

19.18

2.29

19.18

5

Ronald Slack, Jr.

Pahrump NV

18.93

18.93

6

Gary Robbins

Burbank CA

18.64

0.4

3.91

18.24

7

Kirk Beardsley

Canyon Lake CA

18.37

0.2

18.17

8

Mike Guerra

Las Vegas NV

18.16

3.08

18.16

9

Darren Vieira

Martinez CA

18.15

2.69

18.15

10

Jason Lazzerini

Moss Landing CA

18.13

0.2

5.01

17.93

10

Julius Mazy

Phoenix AZ

18.13

0.2

3.77

17.93

12

Chad May

Mesa AZ

18.12

0.2

17.92

13

Carl Limbrick, Jr.

Bonita CA

17.86

0.2

2.23

17.66

14

Dominic Amato

N. Las vegas NV

17.4

17.4

15

Dung Van Vu

Paramount CA

17.38

1.91

17.38

16

John Tubbs

Camarillo CA

17.14

0.2

16.94

17

Rick Grover

Trabucco Canyon CA

16.83

16.83

18

Brandon Smith

Indio CA

16.81

0.2

2.76

16.61

19

Brian P. Day

Rncho Snta Margarita CA

16.58

16.58

20

Brandon Baker

Valencia CA

16.45

3.39

16.45

21

Juan Ramirez

Cave Creek AZ

16.59

0.2

16.39

22

Dante Ray

Sparks NV

16.05

16.05

23

James Landon

North Las Vegas NV

15.87

15.87

24

Matt Menzel

El Cajon CA

15.85

15.85

25

David Burrows

Placentia CA

15.58

15.58

26

Bryan Klem

San Diego CA

15.55

3.18

15.55

27

Aaron Scott

El Dorado Hills CA

15.51

15.51

28

Jeff Won

Cerritos CA

15.35

15.35

29

Conrad Demecs

Scottsdale AZ

15.34

15.34

30

Rafael Gonzalez

Las Vegas NV

15.32

15.32

30

Charlie Ponder

Williams AZ

15.32

15.32

32

Andrew M. Schadegg

Reno NV

15.24

2.1

15.24

33

Craig Hammett

Eagle ID

15.32

0.2

2.67

15.12

34

Dustin Tingle

Spring Valley CA

15.29

0.2

15.09

35

Steve Lund

Glendale AZ

15.06

2.12

15.06

36

Dan Zehring

Gilbert AZ

14.99

14.99

37

Gene Mestas

Henderson NV

14.9

14.9

38

Richard Hoffman

Costa Mesa CA

14.61

2.49

14.61

39

Alex Centner

Gilbert AZ

14.58

14.58

40

Randy Austin

Cedar City UT

14.76

0.2

14.56

41

Angelo Aliotti

Temecula CA

14.66

0.2

14.46

42

Joe Patz

Surprise AZ

14.43

14.43

43

Toru Kaneko

Konan-Shi, Shiga Jap

14.39

14.39

44

Chang Won Park

Palmdale CA

14.58

0.2

14.38

45

Naoaki Fujimoto

Osaka,Japan

14.36

14.36

46

Eric Hammer

Peoria AZ

14.31

14.31

47

Paul Reutlinger

West Jordan UT

14.26

14.26

48

Bill Snyder

Las Vegas NV

14.23

0.2

14.03

49

Bob Keck

Las Vegas NV

14

14

50

Sergio Arguello

North Hollywood CA

13.97

13.97

51

Kenneth Cates

LaQuinta CA

13.96

2.08

13.96

52

Shannon Henry

Anthem AZ

13.87

13.87

53

Gabriel Jones

Granite Falls NC

14.26

0.4

13.86

54

Bill Lansford

Needles CA

13.99

0.2

13.79

55

Patrick McLaren

Las Vegas NV

13.61

13.61

56

R J Nevarez

Bonsall CA

13.8

0.2

13.6

57

Liz Jones

Conoga Park CA

13.57

13.57

58

John Browning

Payson AZ

13.47

1.77

13.47

59

Ellison Hubbard

LAS VEGAS NV

13.4

13.4

60

Darin Guglielmo

Santa Barbara CA

13.34

2.08

13.34

61

Mark Dalton

Fountain Hills AZ

13.26

13.26

62

Mona Dunlap

Cottage Grove OR

13.34

0.2

1.96

13.14

63

Ross Baker

Lake Havasu City AZ

13.09

2.37

13.09

64

Ryland Ogle

Henderson NV

13.05

13.05

65

Robert Sedillo, Jr.

Chino CA

12.98

12.98

66

Atsushi Machida

Las Vegas NV

12.85

12.85

67

Phillip Hudnall

Huntington Beach CA

12.67

12.67

68

Gabriel Romero

Henderson NV

12.66

12.66

69

Josh Ahlvin

Peoria AZ

12.52

12.52

70

Joel Fleck

Menifee CA

12.43

12.43

71

Miles Peshlakai

Las Vegas NV

12.41

12.41

72

Szu Nien Yeh

Las Vegas NV

12.52

0.2

2.02

12.32

73

David Bebawy

Chandler AZ

12.19

12.19

74

Craig A Schultz

Riverside CA

11.98

11.98

75

Rachel Uribe

11.81

2.3

11.81

76

David Hudson

Henderson NV

11.68

2.73

11.68

77

Brant List

Huntington Beach CA

11.65

11.65

78

Todd Dunlap

Cottage Grove OR

11.59

11.59

79

Thomas Wennerlund

Gilbert AZ

11.76

0.2

1.93

11.56

80

Eric Runge

Las Vegas NV

11.53

11.53

81

Mike Crothers

Chandler AZ

11.52

11.52

82

Bret Nagelhout

Red Rock AZ

11.65

0.2

11.45

83

Ryan Scott

El Dorado Hills CA

11.39

1.61

11.39

84

Jason Randall

Las Vegas NV

11.78

0.4

11.38

85

Jan Prestella

Glendora CA

11.37

11.37

86

Michael Bidak

Scottsdale AZ

11.16

11.16

87

Geoff Peterson

Huntington Beach CA

11.08

11.08

88

Jesse Hernandez

Montebello CA

11.05

11.05

89