Kevin VanDam

KVD returns to the top

August 09, 2008
(bassmaster.com, August 9, 2008)

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Todd Faircloth finally missed a top-50, two-day cut on the Bassmaster Elite Series this season. And it couldn’t have come at a worse time for him.

When Faircloth weighed in only 6 pounds, 6 ounces Friday on Day Two of the Champion’s Choice presented by Ramada Worldwide, it allowed Kevin VanDam to claim the 2008 Toyota Tundra Bassmaster Angler of the Year title.

Separated by only 4 ounces after Day One, VanDam rallied with 13-1 to make the top-50 cut with a two-day total of 23-14, and Faircloth finished in 93rd place with 16-15. That was sufficiently more than enough for VanDam to overcome the 21-point lead Faircloth had entering this final event of the season.

Faircloth had made every two-day cut in the previous 10 tournaments this season; VanDam had notched two Elite Series victories this year. But ultimately the AOY title came down to survival on Oneida Lake this week.

“I can’t believe it,” said VanDam, who was in 59th place in the standings here Thursday. “I knew this week would be critical, and Todd has not had a bad tournament all year.

“I was really disappointed yesterday. I thought I’d blown it. I knew when I got a second chance, I had to make it happen.”

http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/tournaments/elite/news/story?id=3526494

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