| | 2006 Texas Walleye Association Championship
Qualifying teams from Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas faced unseasonably hot weather and record low water conditions at Lake Meredith in their quest for $5,400 in total prize money in the 2006 TWA Classic Championship on June 10-11. This tournament has an interesting format in that each day counts as a separate tournament with pay-outs to the top three teams each day but with the biggest prizes going to the teams with the heaviest combined two day total. The overall winner also receives an automatic invitation to the 2007 Cabelas National Team Championship.
Jeff Cooper and Scott Manske of Amarillo were able to put two good days together (a 5th on day 1 and 1st on day 2) to weigh in 10 fish weighing a total of 24.31 lbs to claim the overall 2006 Championship and $1,000. Second place was a real horse race as only .22 of a pound separated places 2 through 4. The father/ son team of Hank and Hunter McWilliams of Fritch won the race taking second and $500 with a two day total of 19.56 lbs. Close behind in third and fourth were Mark Murphy and Monte McMurphy of Woodward, Oklahoma with 19.42 lbs. and Dan Turner of Dumas and David Turner of Bristow, Oklahoma with 19.34 lbs. 5th went to Jim and James Welch of Fritch with 18.32 lbs. The big fish of the tourney was a 4.04 lb weighed in by the Turners.
On the first tournament day, Mark Murphy and Monte McMurphy of Woodward, Ok brought in a 5 fish limit weighing 12.89 for first place and $520. The father/son team of Jim and James Welch of Fritch claimed 2nd and $ 325 with 12.5 lbs. Dan Turner of Dumas and David Turner of Bristow, OK weighed in 12.18 lbs. to take third and $200. They also won the first day big fish pot of $130 with their 4.04 lb fish.
On the second day of the tournament, a front blew through producing far fewer fish and a completely different set of money winners. Jeff Cooper and Scott Manske weighed in an impressive 12.97 lbs for first place and $520. They also took the big fish pot of $130 with a 3.67 lb walleye. Second and $325 went to Robert Reining and Merle Meaker of Panhandle with 9.93 lbs. Hank and Hunter McWilliams finished third to win $200 with 9.93 lbs.
Additional prize money was awarded in head to head team competitions, drawings, and a special $200 prize to the individual coming closest to predicting the combined winning weight. The championship concludes the 2006 season which will also qualify up to 5 teams for the 2007 Cabelas National Team Championship based upon a yearly points system. On June 23-24, 5 TWA teams have been selected to participate in the 2006 National Championship at Lake Sharpe, South Dakota. Participating teams in this months National Championship are: Kevin and Kalin Audrain; J.D. Carr and Ron Alexander; Jim Welch and Ed Rodriguez; Dan and David Turner; and Donnie Bell and Mark Murphy.
The 2007 season will begin with a fall tourney at Lake Meredith. For more information on the 2007 TWA Season, contact either: Donnie Bell at (806) 857-2250, fishinbell123@yahoo.com or Dan Turner at (806) 935-3176, dnturner@valornet.com. Rules, past results, an additional information can also be found on walleyecentral.com.
2006 TWA Point Leaders
(Those Who Qualified and Fished in the Championship)
Captain Points
Hank McWilliams 29
Kevin Audrain 27
John McWilliams 27
Jeff Cooper 26
Jim Welch 25
Robert Reining 23
Mark Murphy 20
Dan Turner 20
Jim O’Connor 20
D. Carr 19
Jeff Alexander 14
Donnie Bell 12
Bryan Garrison 12
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