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17th annual Governors Bass Tourney just around the corner

APSU Governors Bass TournamentClarksville, TN – The 17th annual Austin Peay State University Governors Bass Tournament is just around the corner.

This year’s edition will be held Saturday, May 14th, at Kentucky Lake, with registration and boat launching from Paris Landing, Tennessee, State Park. Last season’s tourney was postponed from May 8th to May 23rd, due to flood conditions that enveloped the area. Despite the two-week delay, the tourney still drew 269 boats.

Sam Lashlee and Jeff Davis won the 16th Governors Bass Tournament last year at Paris Landing State Park.
Sam Lashlee and Jeff Davis won the 16th Governors Bass Tournament last year at Paris Landing State Park.

This year, APSU is hopeful of approaching the 333 boats launched in 2009.

Sponsored by Mercury, Motorguide, The Leaf Chronicle, Legends Bank, Morgan Contractors Inc., Beach Oil, 5 Star Radio Group, Jenkins and Wynne Ford Lincoln Mercury Honda, B&J Marine, WJZM (1400 AM), WKDZ 106.5 FM, WVRY 105.1 FM solid Gospel, Walmart Supercenters (Clarksville), DBS and Associates Engineering, Inc. (David Smith), Grandpa’s Outdoors, The Tackle Box, The New Clarksville Marina, Eagles Nest Campground along with the Governors Club, the tournament will benefit Austin Peay athletics.

Twelve thousand dollars in prize money—an increase of $1,000—will be awarded with a guaranteed first-place prize of $5,000, boosted from the previous $4,000 award. Second-place is guaranteed $1,500. Third and fourth-place will receive $1,000 and $600, respectively. The top 25 places will receive prizes.

The start of last year's APSU Governors Bass Tournament.
The start of last year's APSU Governors Bass Tournament.

Each individual entering the tournament has the opportunity to win the grand door prize, a $12,000 gift certificate from Mercury for Mercury products. In addition, other door prizes will be awarded.

The tourney will begin 6:00am, Saturday, May 14th, although all contestants must be checked in between 4:00am-5:30am, with a mandatory meeting on the water at 5:45am. Pre-registration entry fee is $100.00 per boat (two people per boat), $110.00 after noon, Friday, May 13th.

Fishing with artificial baits only is authorized with no motor trolling allowed. A five-fish limit per boat exists.

Austin Peay State UniversityThe Governors Club will have sausage biscuits prior to the tournament and hamburgers and hot dogs at weigh-in.

Weigh in will begin at 3:00pm and boats launching will take place in order of postmark of entry form. Only largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass measuring 15 inches (with mouth closed) will be weighed.

Last year, the team of Sam Lashlee, of Hermitage, and Jeff Davis, of Lebanon, came away with a catch of 29.12 pounds to easily outdistance McKenzie’s Scott Mansfield, who fished by himself but hauled in 22.42 pounds to take second place. It was Lashlee’s second first-place finish.

For entry form and more information, stop by the APSU University Advancement office or call 931-221-7024 or 931-221-7127, between 8:00am-4:30pm. After business hours, call 931-624-2909 or 931-436-1044. In addition, all this information, including the entry form, is available at the APSU athletics web site: apsugovernors.com .

Photos from last year’s tournament can be found in Discover Clarksville’s Photo Gallery.

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