MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Kevin VanDam took a familiar position atop the leader board Friday to win the Evan Williams Bourbon Trophy, but he remains in a tight race with Skeet Reese for the Bassmasters Angler of the Year.
VanDam, of Kalamazoo, Mich., pulled in 15 pounds, 7 ounces from the Alabama River, while Reese, from Auburn, Calif., managed 12 pounds, 4 ounces.
VanDam, a three-time Bassmaster Classic champion, is in the running with reigning champion Reese for a second consecutive year in the Bassmaster Elite Series Postseason.
Reese still leads overall with 277 points to VanDam’s 275.
Aaron Martens of Leeds, Ala., and Edwin Evers of Talala, Okla., are still in reach, with 262 and 256 points respectively. Russ Lane of Prattville, Ala., is in fifth with 252 points.
