Kevin VanDam

A Grand Shootout

June 23, 2007
(espnoutdoors.com, June 23, 2007)

GROVE, Okla. — With tongue firmly in cheek, Kevin VanDam came to the Bassmaster Elite Series Sooner Run weigh-in stand Saturday and explained how he did some sandbagging so his friend, Jeff Kreit, would finally have a chance to beat him.

“Jeff Kriet is a pretty good friend of mine,” said VanDam, who caught 21-plus pounds the first two days of the Grand Lake tournament, presented by Longhorn Moist Snuff. “He’s always on this kick about trying to beat me. I just wanted to slump off a little bit.”

It wasn’t on purpose, but VanDam slumped to 16 pounds, 3 ounces Saturday. Meanwhile his buddy Kriet jumped to the biggest five-bass-limit of the tournament, 24-11. Going into Sunday’s final, Kriet leads VanDam by seven ounces, 59-13 to 59-6. Rookie Marty Robinson, who was second each of the first two days, has 58-1.

“It’s going to be a shootout,” said VanDam, the three-time BASS Angler of the Year. “It’s going to be fun. I’m looking forward to competing against my buddy.”

http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/tournaments/elite/news/story?id=2914496

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