Arizona angler leads day 1 of U.S. Open at Lake Mead

LAS VEGAS, NV. — Clifford Pirch of Payson, AZ, has taken the lead in the Pro Division on the first round of the WON BASS Miller High Life U.S. Open at Lake Mead with a total of 9.51 pounds. His AAA partner for the day, Steve Grier of Salinas, CA, leads that division with the same weight, and both anglers will collect $2,500 each for the day's heaviest stringer.

Also scoring big bucks on the first day are the five anglers with the heaviest bass, each winning $2,000 for their big fish. The five big fish winners (two AAA and three Pros) included: AAA Randall Bruce of North Las Vegas, NV, 3.96 pounds; AAA Randy Bruno of Huntington Beach, CA, 2.84; Pro Richard Welch of Santee, CA, 2.74; Pro Kevin Martin of San Diego, 2.63; and Ted Roper of Kingman, AZ, 2..47 pounds.

The U.S. Open continues on Tuesday and Wednesday, staged out of Callville Bay Resort on Lake Mead.

The Open features a top Pro prize of over $100,000 including $50,000 cash plus a Ford Truck and fully-equipped Ranger bass boat with a Mercury outboard, Lowrance electronics, MotorGuide trolling motor and Trojan batteries.

The AAA winner receives $10,000. Each day the largest stringer is worth $2,500 to the Pro/AAA pairing, while $2,000 is given each day for the 5 largest bass.

WON BASS Miller High Life tournaments are sponsored by Ranger boats and trailers, Mercury outboards, Daiwa rods and reels, Miller Brewing Co., Quantum rods and reels, MotorGuide trolling motors, Ford Dealers of Southern California, El Cajon Ford, Kelly Tires, Berkley Trilene line and Frenzy lures, Lowrance Electronics, Trojan batteries, Luhr-Jensen lures, Owner Hooks/Cultiva Lures, Bass Weekly Radio KRLA 590AM, Lucky Craft lures, Angler’s Advantage Insurance Program, Plano Outdoor Products, Costa del Mar sunglasses, Leatherman tools, Matzuo lures, Kinami Baits, Mad Man lures, Banana Boat suncare products, Cargobat storage systems, Prolong Lubricants, Anglers Marine boat/tackle sales, The Outdoor Channel television network, Zeiss binoculars, Water Gremlin sinkers, Bassfan.com, Zipper Worms, Extra Edge Products, Yamamoto Custom Baits, Mojo Lure Co., Strike Pro USA, Rebel lures, Heddon lures, Bomber lures and Excalibur lures.

For complete standings, see the WON BASS website at www.wonbass.com.

PRO Standings

Name Hometown Fish Big Fish Total
1. Clifford Pirch Payson AZ 5 9.51
2. Steve Davies North Edwards CA 5 9.44
3. John Kerr Ramona CA 5 2.42 9.29
4. Dennis Kolender Henderson NV 5 9.08
5. Pat Clement Anderson CA 5 9.06
6. Scott Frazier El Cajon CA 5 8.56
7. Byron Velvick Boulder City NV 5 8.29
8. Roy Hawk Salt Lake City UT 5 2.21 8.18
9. Kevin Martin El Cajon CA 5 2.63 8.12
10. Stan Vanderburg Chatsworth CA 5 7.97

AAA Standings

Name Hometown Fish Big Fish Total
1. Steven Grier Salinas CA 5 9.51
2. Randall Bruce North Las Vegas NV 5 3.96 9.44
3. Dean Yamagata Las Vegas NV 5 9.29
4. Brandon Ober Camarillo CA 5 9.08
5. Eiji Sumida Chatsworth CA 5 9.06
6. Megumi Takagi Chatsworth CA 5 1.94 8.56
7. Ben Andreas Las Vegas NV 5 8.29
8. Eddie Garcia Azusa CA 5 8.18
9. Mark J. White Tucson AZ 5 8.12
10. Ronald Cross Pahrump NV 5 7.97