Five Bassmaster Southern Open pros earn eligibility to move up to Elite Series
DECATUR, Ala. — Bassmaster Elite Series pro Charlie Hartley of Grove City, Ohio, qualified Saturday for the 2008 Bassmaster Classic — his first — along with two-time Classic qualifier Todd Auten of Lake Wylie, S.C., and Bobby Lane of Lakeland, Fla., who will join his brother, Chris, in the Classic field.
Hartley, Auten and Lane qualified through the Bassmaster Southern Open circuit for the Feb. 22-24 Classic on South Carolina’s Lake Hartwell. The three pros finished first, second and third, respectively, in the season-long points race, which ended Saturday at the Open’s final 2007 event on Alabama’s Wheeler Lake out of Decatur.
Points-race winner Hartley entered the Wheeler event in second, thanks to his third-place finish at the Kissimmee Southern Open in March and his second at the Santee Cooper event in May. With a solid 13th-place finish in Alabama, he skated to the win by a 27-point margin.
“It’s wonderful. Points winner is a great title to have on my resume — and I’m going to the Classic, a lifetime dream,” said the 43-year-old Hartley, a veteran Elite pro who’s been competing in BASS events since 1996. “I fished my first bass tournament when I was 8 years old, so I’ll be the proudest person there.”
He said he felt the turning point in his Classic bid was on the second day of the Wheeler competition.
“With about 15 minutes to go, I ran up to a dock and caught a really big fish, and I thought at the time that I might’ve made the Classic with that fish,” he said.
Auten, 41, a two-time Classic qualifier has scored a 13th-place finish in 2003 and a 34th in 1999 at fishing’s most major event.
“I feel good, but of course I wanted to win the points,” said Auten, who also finished second at the Wheeler tournament. “I can’t wait for the Classic. Lake Hartwell is only two hours from my house. It’s a great fishery, and I’ve done well in the past there.”
Lane, 33, will be competing in his first Classic alongside his brother, Elite Series pro Chris Lane of Winter Haven, Fla., who qualified on the strength of his position in the Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year Standings.
“I’m very excited to see Chris in there, and I know he is to see me there,” said Lane, who’s about a year older than his brother. “But I was nervous today. My nerves haven’t been this racked in three years. But I made the Classic, qualified for the Elites, so life’s good.”
Only seven of the 50 Classic contenders are yet to be determined. Six will be BASS Federation Nation anglers who will qualify through their championship, Nov. 8-10 on Florida’s Lake Tohopekaliga, an event that will air on ESPN2 at 9 a.m. ET, Feb. 16, 2008.
The 50th Classic qualifier will be the winner of the Nov. 14-17 championship of the Bassmaster Weekend Series Operated by American Bass Anglers. That tournament will be on Georgia’s Clarks Hill Lake.
Elite Series Qualifiers
In addition to their Classic berths, Hartley, Auten and Lane earned eligibility next year for the top level of competitive bass fishing, the Bassmaster Elite Series.
Hartley qualified in September through the Elite Series, but he now takes his eligibility through the Southern Open. Auten and Lane secured first-year Elite status.
Also receiving an invitation to join the Elite Series was the fourth-place finisher in the points race: Mark Davis, 44, of Mount Ida, Ark. Davis is a three-time Bassmaster Angler of the Year (1995, 1998 and 2001); he also won the 1995 Classic.
Elite Series pro Terry Scroggins, 38 of San Mateo, Fla., took the fifth Southern Open Elite spot. Already qualified for the ’08 Elite Series, Scroggins’ eligibility now channels through the Open instead of through the Elite Series.
The Southern Open’s final points standings can be found below.
Bassmaster Central Open and Southern Open sponsors: Sponsors include Toyota, Purolator, Triton Boats, Mercury Marine, Berkley, Lowrance Electronics and MotorGuide
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.
BASSMASTER SOUTHER OPEN FINAL POINTS STANDINGS
2007 Bassmaster Southern Open — Pros
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Place Name St Pts
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1 Charlie Hartley Ohio 836
2 Todd Auten S.C. 809
3 Bobby Lane Fla. 790
4 Mark Davis Ark. 764
5 Terry Scroggins Fla. 729
6 Kenneth Chapman Tenn. 722
7 Preston Henson Calif. 712
8 Scott Sills Ga. 692
9 Terry Segraves Fla. 668
10 Ron Klys Fla. 663
11 Preston Clark Fla. 662
12 J Todd Tucker Ga. 632
13 Paul Kimball Conn. 624
13 Kyle Fox Fla. 624
15 Brett Mitchell S.C. 613
16 Randy Alexander Ky. 606
17 Luke Estel Ill. 603
18 Wade Grooms S.C. 599
19 Marty Stone N.C. 593
20 John Cox Fla. 588
20 Sean Dassau Ala. 588
22 Thomas O’Bryant Tenn. 583
23 Richard Smith Va. 573
24 Patrick Pierce Fla. 567
25 Bobby Stanfill S.C. 566
26 Rodney Chastain S.C. 565
27 John Chaffo Pa. 561
28 Todd Walters N.C. 525
29 Lee Cox Md. 516
30 Robert Griswold N.C. 511
31 Cecil Wolfe S.C. 507
32 Scott Lakey Mich. 505
33 Lee Hartley Ga. 495
34 Clint Brownlee Ga. 492
35 Chris Lane Fla. 489
35 Jason Yeager Wisc. 489
37 Greg Vinson Ala. 474
37 Sam Greer Ky. 474
39 Ricky Shumpert S.C. 464
40 Craig Nels N.Y. 461
41 Art Ferguson Mich. 451
42 David Mansue N.J. 446
43 Terry McWilliams Ind. 430
44 Brannon Jones Ala. 426
45 Jerry Savage Miss. 420
46 Daryl Biron Conn. 417
47 Greg Roth Canada 416
48 Joseph Kastner S.C. 413
49 Troy Morrow Ga. 410
50 John Kremer Fla. 406
50 Randy Yarnall Pa. 406
52 Ronnie Watts S.C. 405
53 Chris Novack Conn. 403
54 Travis Rulle Ala. 400
55 Mark Rizk Ala. 397
56 Tom Hamlin Ga. 396
57 Brent Broderick Ohio 395
58 Brad Outersky Mo. 392
59 Homer Humphreys, Jr La. 391
60 Bill Rea Ohio 390
60 Kirk Crump S.C. 390
62 Bobby Scharber Tenn. 369
63 Bob Morin Tenn. 366
64 Dennis Magoto Ohio 365
65 Wayne Clifton S.C. 364
66 Will Dickens S.C. 358
67 Gregory Dipalma N.J. 356
68 Dave Parsons Texas 342
69 Michael Delvisco S.C. 337
70 Dan Welch W.Va. 336
71 Pat Golden N.C. 331
72 John Kolinski Wisc. 330
73 Kenneth Chambers Ala. 327
74 Sean Hoernke Texas 326
75 Kevin Marrs Fla. 322
75 Mark Duerr Wisc. 322
77 Gerald Gostenik Mich. 319
78 Shawn Johnson Fla. 317
79 Larry Gaines Fla. 313
80 Frank Ippoliti Pa. 310
80 Mark Lamb N.C. 310
82 Charlie Hill Ky. 309
83 Billy Schwach S.C. 298
84 Bob Eagleston Fla. 295
85 Terry Bloom Fla. 292
86 Kenneth Ellis S.C. 290
87 Justin Hanold Fla. 289
88 Ken Dodson Ala. 287
88 Jay Kendrick Ala. 287
90 Chris Heath S.C. 285
91 Lex Costas S.C. 280
92 Teb Jones Miss. 273
93 Timmy Horton Ala. 272
94 Charles Ingram Tenn. 263
95 Russ Lane Ala. 260
96 Ray Brazier Tenn. 258
97 Gerald Swindle Ala. 257
97 Tony Chachere La. 257
99 Ray Winans S.C. 254
100 Rich Patterson Fla. 247
101 Russell Colwell Md. 246
102 Micah Sepko S.C. 244
103 Larry Jones Ga. 243
104 Roger Morrow Ga. 242
105 Ray Sedgwick S.C. 241
105 Jimmy Mason Ala. 241
107 Roger Schofield Ala. 240
107 Mark Hicks Ohio 240
109 Kenneth Acornley Pa. 238
109 Warren Gensel Pa. 238
111 Wayne Prater Tenn. 234
111 Ron Wheaton Tenn. 234
113 Stephen Boyd Fla. 233
113 Greg Barwick Ga. 233
115 Brent Riley S.C. 231
116 Luke Smith Fla. 227
117 Jess Salmon N.J. 226
118 Shawn Rook Ark. 224
119 David Kilgore Ala. 223
120 Lynn Oswalt Ala. 222
120 Kip Bodkin Texas 222
122 Daniel Moody Ala. 217
123 Greg Wyrick N.C. 213
124 Matthew Herren Ala. 210
124 Corey Waldrop Texas 210
126 Ken Cothran Ga. 209
127 Rogne Brown Tenn. 203
128 Russ Osborne Fla. 202
129 Tim Ezell Fla. 197
129 Tim Dungan Ohio 197
131 Clark Reehm Ark. 195
132 David Perdue Va. 191
133 Lee Pitts Ala. 190
134 Harry Moore Ala. 188
135 John Gray Ind. 186
136 Brent Crow Ala. 185
137 Dustin Evans Tenn. 182
137 Joe Jones Ala. 182
139 Mickey Thomas Mich. 179
139 Nelson Walker S.C. 179
139 Brent Long N.C. 179
139 Edward Guice Ala. 179
143 Michael Goodman N.C. 178
144 Jeremy Vandenbosch Mich. 174
145 Richard Parrish Ga. 173
146 Billy Bowen Va. 172
147 Gary Clouse Tenn. 169
148 GREG PUGH Ala. 168
149 David Barnes Maine 162
149 Sean Alvarez Vt. 162
151 Kelby Waldrip Ind. 157
151 Michael Lionetti Pa. 157
153 Brandon Stanley Tenn. 152
154 Danny Lamie Va. 151
155 Rocky Cummings Ark. 150
156 Cory Nichols Tenn. 149
157 Robert Carpenter Fla. 148
158 Tripp Ward Fla. 147
158 Mike Cleveland Ga. 147
160 George Mudd Ill. 145
160 Ron Brown S.C. 145
162 Scott Smith Tenn. 144
163 Randall Allen Ala. 139
164 Paul Mazzitelli Pa. 137
165 Douglas Moore Ga. 133
165 David Morrissette Mass. 133
165 Bo Chappell S.C. 133
168 Lloyd Willmouth Fla. 130
168 Travis Loyd Ill. 130
170 Lee King N.C. 127
171 Matt Mclaughlin Ala. 125
172 Steve Linville Ohio 124
172 Robert Miley Fla. 124
174 Rob Strader Ohio 122
175 Curtis Reeves Ga. 115
176 Tim Rivest Ill. 111
177 Craig Gipe Ky. 107
177 Andy Starner Pa. 107
179 Johnny Urbon S.C. 100
180 Mike Jobe Ind. 94
181 David Stephens Fla. 86
182 Richard Kennedy La. 83
182 Jeffrey Mahaffey Va. 83
184 Jim Hill Fla. 82
185 Craig Dowling La. 80
186 Bruce Bingenheimer N.Y. 79
187 Tony Sapp Ga. 77
187 Kurt Dove Va. 77
189 Gary Riffle Texas 74
190 Don Leslie Ind. 68
191 Leonard Wilson Ky. 67
192 Sam Moody Ala. 66
193 Ronald Pierce Ark. 65
194 Patrick Kelly Ala. 64
195 Gary Pace Wisc. 62
196 Randy McCarty Ky. 61
196 Ronald Rogers Fla. 61
198 Mike Weiss Wisc. 60
199 Fred Rigdon Fla. 58
200 Cody Malone Texas 51
201 Scott Patton Ky. 49
202 Mike Pickett Ky. 48
202 Scott Mcgehee Miss. 48
204 James Anderson Fla. 45
205 Kenny Sapp Ga. 44
206 Rickey Wilson Ohio 43
207 William Davis Ala. 38
207 Mark Burgess Mass. 38
207 Ken Golubjatnikov N.Y. 38
210 Jeff Cloud Texas 37
211 Cecil Kingsley Kan. 35
212 Butch Tucker Ga. 31
213 Cecil Douberly Fla. 30
213 Danny Williams Fla. 30
213 Robert Watkins Fla. 30
216 Jonathan Else Pa. 29
217 James Butler Tenn. 27
217 Bobby Myers Okla. 27
219 Brian Penso Texas 22
220 Greg Secord Ga. 19
221 Kenneth Young Fla. 10
221 Rob Harlacher N.C. 10
223 Jim Pitts Ala. 6
224 Doug Luper Va. 4
224 Frank Boothe Texas 4
226 Randy Yager Fla. 3
227 Burley Warf Va. 1
227 Jeffrey Brooks Fla. 1
227 Maurice Parent II N.C. 1
230 A.E. Red Moore N.C. 0
230 Stanley Chandler Fla. 0
230 H D (Howard) Dotson Ky. 0
230 Lee Byrd Ala. 0
230 Craig Melton Tenn. 0
FINAL POINTS STANDINGS
2007 Bassmaster Southern Open — Co-Anglers
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Place Name St Pts
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1 Fred Hood Ga. 775
2 Barry Pavia Fla. 750
3 Alonzo Evans Fla. 738
4 James Sharp Ga. 688
5 Daren Mcdermott Fla. 685
6 Larry Blount Ala. 647
7 Chuck Thurlow Ala. 631
8 Stephen Schneider N.Y. 625
9 Luke Gritter Mich. 616
10 Rob Williamson Maine 606
11 Dow Cox Tenn. 601
12 Lee Davis Ga. 599
13 Donnie Dodd Ala. 587
14 James Kindred Tenn. 570
15 Jeff Sullivan Fla. 564
16 Steven Wisdom Ala. 560
17 Marty Scoggins Ga. 542
18 Mike Prance Fla. 538
19 Mark Denney Ga. 532
20 Johnny Denny Ky. 531
21 Justin Walker Canada 517
22 Allen Burkhalter Ga. 508
23 Ronald Wiggins Fla. 505
24 John Moon Texas 490
25 Frank Jones Fla. 478
26 Michael Roe Ky. 469
27 Horace Hubbard Ga. 463
28 Rodger Ray Ga. 443
29 Lanny Guthrie Ala. 430
30 Skip Elliott Fla. 423
31 Charles Gardner Ga. 422
32 Jeffrey Prisza Mich. 421
33 Keith Davis Ohio 417
34 Robert Green N.C. 415
35 John Roberson La. 411
36 Ray Gilmore Fla. 395
37 Michael Wilson Fla. 394
38 Cory Williams Ky. 391
39 Dan Morrow Ga. 389
40 Jonathan Barnette Ala. 388
41 Darrell Hille Tenn. 384
42 Lee Hannah Mass. 378
43 Wayne Morgan Ga. 375
44 Eric D. Johnson Mass. 373
45 Richard Persson Fla. 372
46 Jimmy Dudley Ga. 371
47 Andrew Dick Del. 367
48 James Wade N.C. 365
49 Joshua Fiedler Md. 362
49 Earl Mueller S.C. 362
51 Jay Mabry Miss. 356
52 Frank Kerns Ga. 351
53 Jake Carter S.C. 349
54 Chuck Cunningham S.C. 344
55 Bill Poirier Fla. 340
56 T Mike Evans Ala. 337
57 Todd Davidson Ohio 335
58 Curtis McFadden Canada 333
59 Frank Woodruff Fla. 331
59 Michael Bradford Ala. 331
61 Emre Sarihan Fla. 329
62 Ronald Mueller S.C. 327
63 Jeff Morrison Ill. 326
63 Benjamin Furmanek S.C. 326
63 Jason Black N.C. 326
66 Frelon Moore Ala. 323
66 Shaun Mulhall Ga. 323
68 Buck Wallace Texas 320
68 Ross Rathmell Pa. 320
70 Boyce Wyatt Mo. 317
71 Stephen Green N.C. 316
72 Jim McDevitt Mo. 315
73 Damon Kiper Ky. 313
74 Joey Thomas Tenn. 303
75 Scott Reed N.C. 302
76 Joe Edwards Fla. 300
77 Matt Fair Fla. 291
78 John White Ga. 290
79 Kenneth Crumpler Fla. 285
80 Vince Parker Fla. 283
81 Don Lewis Fla. 282
82 Sam Dewey Ohio 281
83 Mark Richard La. 280
84 Michael Chandler S.C. 279
85 Don Griffin Ga. 278
86 Jason Law Ga. 276
87 Brad Fox Fla. 272
88 Danny Lea Tenn. 270
89 Sunny Carpenter Fla. 269
90 Wesley Watson N.C. 265
91 Jeff Walker Ky. 263
92 Robert Hicks Fla. 260
93 Gary Johns Ohio 257
94 Blaine Bucy W.Va. 254
95 Earl Purcell Mass. 253
96 Michael Hall Ky. 249
97 Brian Marino Fla. 247
98 Kevin Pulsifer Fla. 245
99 Johnny Stambaugh Fla. 243
100 David Parks Ala. 241
101 Joseph Kelly S.C. 238
101 Chad Parker S.C. 238
103 Andy Cobb Ala. 235
103 Kurtis Michaux Fla. 235
103 Steven Roosen N.C. 235
106 James Lamb Mo. 234
107 Ron Parks N.C. 232
107 Mark Williams N.C. 232
109 David Eden Tenn. 231
109 Gary Slifko Fla. 231
109 Chuck Wilson N.C. 231
112 Ryan Scott Ky. 229
113 Larry Mullikin Fla. 226
114 Steve Hernew Ill. 225
115 Allen Rix Ill. 223
115 Nathan Nipper Minn. 223
117 Johnnie Dennis Fla. 221
118 Kyle Lowrey Fla. 213
119 Edward Guertin N.H. 212
120 Micky Lusk S.C. 211
120 Bill Williams Ky. 211
122 Richard Kitchens Fla. 209
122 Charles Wood Ind. 209
124 Carl Pope Ky. 207
124 Greg Pope N.C. 207
126 Gary Besmer N.Y. 204
127 Cal Teneyck Minn. 200
127 Eddie Paul S.C. 200
129 Jason Patterson Ind. 199
130 Gene Barnette Ala. 196
130 James Rozelle S.C. 196
132 William Marlin Ky. 195
133 Kim Zwick Fla. 194
134 Walter Zajkowski Fla. 191
135 Jeff Routch S.C. 190
136 David Glenn Fla. 189
136 Albert Pieper S.C. 189
138 James Hagwood N.C. 187
139 Jim Smith Ga. 186
139 Lance Spencer Va. 186
141 Edward Hermoyian Ga. 185
142 Matthew Roesch Ga. 184
143 Mike Birge Ala. 181
143 Melvin Berry Fla. 181
145 Jeffrey Worth Fla. 179
146 Clint Pack S.C. 178
146 John Stahl Fla. 178
146 Vern Moss Mich. 178
149 Charles Townsel Fla. 176
150 Michael Doro R.I. 173
151 Kyle Shirley Ala. 169
152 John Porter Md. 162
153 Alan Blondino Va. 161
154 David Leverett Fla. 159
155 Ralph Mueller Mo. 157
155 Russell Steen S.C. 157
157 Dennis Andersen Fla. 156
158 Larry Bryant Tenn. 153
159 Gregory Don Griffin S.C. 148
160 Jack Palmer Ky. 146
160 Kerry Bethune Ala. 146
162 Jeff Campbell Ohio 145
163 James Williams Ill. 142
164 Ronald Speckman Fla. 141
165 Walter Swafford Fla. 139
165 Ryusuke Nishio N.J. 139
167 Charles Robison Pa. 137
168 James Madsen Ill. 136
169 Ben Todd Fla. 134
169 Paul Scharf Fla. 134
171 Brent Chapman Va. 133
171 Lester Thompson W.Va. 133
173 Kevin Broadwood Canada 129
173 Hugh Gray Fla. 129
173 Terry Driggers Fla. 129
173 Billy Hill N.C. 129
173 David Paulino Va. 129
178 Daniel Castaing Fla. 127
178 Louis Manata Miss. 127
180 Jim Guy Tenn. 122
181 Dennis Staley Canada 121
182 Terry Henson Sr. Ala. 117
182 Allen Scarborough N.C. 117
184 Randy Duncan Ala. 114
184 Rob D’Andrea Fla. 114
186 Paul Stetler Mo. 113
187 Mickey Singletary Ga. 110
188 Dave Williams Ohio 109
189 David Hagens Fla. 106
190 Tommy Menefee Ala. 102
191 Tony Adams Ga. 101
192 Shane Shafer Ohio 99
192 Kevin Fox N.Y. 99
194 Chris Clarke S.C. 97
195 Brian Miller Fla. 95
196 David Handel N.C. 93
197 Jason Densmore Ga. 90
198 Tom Lyskawka Ill. 88
199 Richard Garlock N.Y. 85
200 Will Stoner Ala. 83
201 Adam Slupczynski Fla. 81
202 Tucker Smith Ala. 79
203 Eugene Hall Ga. 77
204 Mike Sheheane Ala. 74
204 John Foster Fla. 74
206 David Whitten Ala. 72
207 Ken Adcock Fla. 71
207 Vincent Lawyer Fla. 71
207 Justin Talkington W.Va. 71
210 Charles Timme Ala. 70
211 Joe Richard Ky. 69
212 David Tagliarini Fla. 68
212 Robert Morin Fla. 68
214 Brian Rodriguez Fla. 66
215 Marc Mann Ill. 65
215 Ferlin Weeks Ala. 65
217 Lee Clark Ala. 60
218 Frank Penn Ala. 59
219 Robert Popp Ga. 58
219 Marvin Stith N.J. 58
221 Cory Larimer Fla. 56
222 Thomas Stackhouse Ala. 54
222 Kevin Lynn Colo. 54
222 Donald Lamb Fla. 54
225 Thomas Melton N.Y. 52
226 Paul Hilson Fla. 50
226 Bennett Snyder Fla. 50
228 Jimmy Murphy Miss. 49
229 L. C. Hatley Ohio 47
230 Bj Hannah Tenn. 46
230 Brad Gilley Ala. 46
232 Randy Fosnaugh Ohio 45
233 Chad Christensen Utah 42
234 Louis Knueppel Va. 39
235 Dan Shafer Ohio 37
236 James Blythe Miss. 35
237 Paul Keltner Tenn. 33
238 Chris Persiani Va. 32
238 Richard Johnson Fla. 32
240 Warren Houston Fla. 30
241 James Polak Ga. 28
242 Wes Hood Va. 26
242 Benjamin Fields Fla. 26
244 Arnie Bailey Va. 24
245 Earl Capes Ga. 23
246 John Virostek Ohio 22
247 Rick Perez Fla. 19
247 Maruo Naohiro 19
247 Clayton Campbell Fla. 19
250 Carter Shackelford Ind. 16
250 Cecil Fry S.C. 16
252 Jim Staszewski Maine 15
253 Monty Wright Mo. 13
254 Thomas Babbs Tenn. 6
255 Dennis Henderson S.C. 0
255 Bruce Kane Fla. 0
255 Stan Harvey N.C. 0
255 Tony Nigro N.Y. 0
255 Robert Mills Tenn. 0
255 William O’Dell S.C. 0
255 Dylan Eady Fla. 0
255 Daniel Simpson Fla. 0
255 Bryon Waddell R.I. 0
255 John Pantaleo Canada 0
255 Ken Compton Mich. 0
255 Judd Browder Calif. 0
255 Mckinley Wilson N.C. 0
255 Daniel Swartz, Jr. Pa. 0
255 Daniel Swartz, III Pa. 0
255 David Goggans Miss. 0
255 Mark Daidone N.C. 0
255 Richard Hudson Ind. 0
255 Alex Cribb S.C. 0
255 Wayne Hopkins S.C. 0
255 Carl Griffith N.C. 0
255 Dale Ball N.C. 0
255 Scott Hughes Fla. 0
255 Richard Johnson Fla. 0
255 Brian Meyer S.C. 0
255 Bryan Moeller S.C. 0
