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Wes Haney weighs in his catch for the day at seven pounds thirteen ounces jumping into an early lead for the tournament on Friday, Oct. 30, 2009 in Tavares.

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published: Friday, November 06, 2009

Phillips wins Bassmaster

Phillips wins Bassmaster

Staff Report

TAVARES - Randy Phillips of Oxford, Mass., closed strong Friday, securing a berth in the 2010 Bassmaster Classic and the overall win in the 2009 Bassmaster Federation Nation Championship on the Harris Chain of Lakes with a three-day total of 31 pounds, 1 ounce.

With the victory, Phillips also scored a Skeeter/ Yamaha rig valued at more than $60,000.

"It feels great, I'm ecstatic," he said. "I could not have asked for a better tournament, everything turned out great and I'm very excited to go to the Classic, this is my dream."

Despite landing a limit - no certainty this week - Phillips only had 6 pounds, 15 ounces on the final day of competition. But tough conditions prevailed and many of the challengers slipped. Don Hogue of Pasco, Wash., had the lead heading into the final day but fell short, claiming runner-up honors with a three-day total of 29-1.

But Hogue did take solace in the fact that as Western division champion, he earned a 2010 Bassmaster Classic berth. Phillips took the Eastern division.

"This is surreal, it's something you dream about like you dream of going to the moon," Hogue said. "I'm kind of overwhelmed, but I'm sure most of the guys are."

In the Southern division, Brent Long of Cornelius, N.C., held on with a five-fish limit that went 7-3 Friday. Long will be fishing his second Classic and his only other Classic experience came on Lay in 2007. Long was fourth this week.

Jeff Freeman of Max Meadows, Va., held off Gerry Jooste of Harare, Zimbabwe, to secure his second Classic berth. Freeman won the 2007 Bassmaster Federation Nation Championship on Lake Tohopekaliga and has also scored victory in Bassmaster events as a co-angler. He will represent the Mid-Atlantic division. Freeman placed seventh in the tournament with 24-05.

Despite finishing 12th in the tournament, Bryan Schmidt of Olney, Texas, had a good enough tournament to take his second consecutive Classic berth. Schmidt bested fellow Texan Tom Jessop of Dalhart and Samuel Anthony of Independence, La. Schmidt will look to repeat his strong 2008 performance when he finished sixth.

To round out the Classic qualifiers, Jody Adkins of North Canton, Ohio, will represent the Northern division on the strength of his third-place finish in the tournament.