VanDam seizes lead in AOY hunt

LITTLE ROCK — With his 10th place finish in The Diamond Drive, Kevin VanDammoved into first place in the Bassmaster Angler of the Year Standings.

VanDam has won seven Bassmaster Angler of the Year titles, included three straight from 2008-10.

Going into the tournament, Terry Scroggins held a slim, 19-point lead over VanDam and Alton Jones. VanDam ended the tournament with 1,731 points, and Edwin Evers had 1,676 points. Jones had1,608 points, and Scroggins had 1,597 points.

The last Elite Series tournament will be June 16-19 on Wheeler Lake, at Decatur, Ala.

“I’m always motivated,” VanDam said. “From the first day of the first tournament I’m thinking of Angler of the Year. My goal for this tournament was to make the top 12. Lo and behold, I’m going into the lst tournament with a lead.”