It took landing a haymaker blow in the opening round, then dodging opponents punches for him to do it, but Clifford Pirch today claimed his third WON Bass Nitro Boats / Mercury U.S. Open victory. The win joins him with Mike Folkestad and Aaron Martens as the only individuals to have won the West’s most prestigious bass fishing event a trio of times.
“I’m speechless right now, especially after being so close the last two years,” said the Payson, Ariz. pro. “I really didn’t think that I had produced enough weight to hold on, but it feels great to pull through, and I’m especially blessed to have been so fortunate to win this event three times; I’m completely humbled right now.”
Pirch opened the event by landing a giant uppercut to the field when he weighed in a 15.49-pound limit that gave him almost a 4-pound lead after the first day. He decided to play it safe in the second round and stayed closer to the Calville Bay takeoff area trying to conserve equipment and avoid disappointment by making a big gamble. That move resulted in a 7.80-pound limit that left the door open to competitors to overtake him. However, he entered the final day with a 2-pound lead.
He decided to make a sizeable run to the back of the Overton Arm to target dirty runoff and debris that had resulted from upstream monsoons and flash floods. It was an area that he had saved for the final day, and it took a while for his bite to develop, but he connected with fish that had moved downstream and caught more than 25 keepers en route to an 8.19-pound limit that left him nervous.
But, one by one, his competitors faltered, and when the last two anglers who had the best shot to defeat him reported in with no fish; Pirch had won the 2014 WON Bass Nitro Boats / Mercury U.S. Open with a total weight of 31.26 pounds. The victory earned him a brand new Nitro Z8 / Mercury prize package valued at $37,000 and $50,000 cash.
Pirch used three different techniques to claim victory. He drop shotted a Pirch’s Purple Roboworm on a Phenix M1 Drop Shot rod and culling out all but one of his early limit with a shad colored crankbait thrown on a Phenix X13 Cranking rod late in the afternoon on the first day. He returned to dropshotting again during the slick calm conditions of the second day, then turned to pitching his signature 1/2-ounce Clifford Pirch Outdoors Flippin’ jigs to hardwood cover in the dirty water on the final day with a Phenix Super Flipper rod. He alternated between black and blue and Clay Bank Orange colors tipped with soft plastic craws as trailers depending on the water clarity.
“It was a tournament where I had to do a lot of different things to produce the right bites; I had to change with the conditions,” he said. “I really wasn’t sure how it was going to turn out today, but I’m blessed and honored to have won this event.”
Todd Woods of San Dimas, Calif. held steady for most of the week and produced a total weight of 28.70 pounds to finish in second place. Third place finisher Gabe Bolivar; from Ramona, Calif. actually sat on the Costa Hot Seat as the current leader for nearly half of today’s weigh-in with 28.49 before being eclipsed by Woods. Dixon, California’s Brett Leber slipped one more place, but his steady showing over the three days earned him fourth place with 26.54. Finally, the top five was rounded out by two-time U.S. Open winner John Murray, who posted nearly a 10-pound stringer to move up from 25th place with a total weight of 25.80 pounds.
The AAA winner was Alex Centner of Gilbert Ariz. who teamed with pro partner Bobby Lanham from Cave Creek, Ariz. to produce the largest stringer of the event; a massive 16.06-limit that also included the big fish of the day. The performance was enough to catapult him from 39th place to victory. Centner will receive more than $10,000 and a St. Croix Rods prize package valued at more than $1,000
By virtue of being the highest finishing pro without a sunglass sponsorship; second place finisher Woods will receive the Costa sponsorship package which includes a full wrap, jerseys, 10 pairs of Costa Sunglasses and paid entry fees into the 2015 California Open at Clear Lake as well as the 2015 WON Bass U.S. Open. The package is valued at $10,000.
For more information, visit www.wonbass.com.
2014 U.S. Open Final Standings – Pro Division
| Place | Name | Hometown | Weight | Penalty | Big Fish | Total |
| 1 | Clifford Pirch | Payson AZ | 31.26 | 6.49 | 31.26 | |
| 2 | Todd Woods | San Dimas CA | 28.7 | 2.86 | 28.7 | |
| 3 | Gabe Bolivar | Ramona CA | 28.46 | 2.52 | 28.46 | |
| 4 | Brett Allen Leber | Dixon CA | 26.54 | 4.03 | 26.54 | |
| 5 | John Murray | Phoenix AZ | 25.8 | 3.72 | 25.8 | |
| 6 | Tony Lain | Menifee CA | 25.33 | 2.22 | 25.33 | |
| 7 | Scott Davis | Preston ID | 25.45 | 0.2 | 25.25 | |
| 8 | Joe Uribe, Jr. | Surprise AZ | 24.67 | 2.7 | 24.67 | |
| 9 | Pete Marino | Moreno Valley CA | 25.06 | 0.4 | 2.44 | 24.66 |
| 10 | Luke Clausen | 24.59 | 24.59 | |||
| 11 | Randy Blaukat | Joplin MO | 24.54 | 3 | 24.54 | |
| 12 | Chris Bozarth | Henderson NV | 24.33 | 0.2 | 2.82 | 24.13 |
| 13 | Wade Strelic | El Cajon CA | 23.84 | 2 | 23.84 | |
| 14 | Bill O’Shinn | Bakersfield CA | 23.96 | 0.2 | 3.47 | 23.76 |
| 15 | Scott Canterbury | 23.72 | 2.83 | 23.72 | ||
| 16 | Johnny Johnson | Lakeside AZ | 23.45 | 23.45 | ||
| 17 | Bobby Lanham | Cave Creek AZ | 23.33 | 5.1 | 23.33 | |
| 18 | Chris Studinger | San Marcos CA | 23.24 | 2.29 | 23.24 | |
| 19 | Bill Brown | Grand Junction CO | 23.06 | 3.16 | 23.06 | |
| 20 | Jesse Slaton | Klamath Falls OR | 22.7 | 22.7 | ||
| 21 | Brent James | St George UT | 22.45 | 3.7 | 22.45 | |
| 22 | Jay Yelas | Carvallis OR | 22.42 | 2.92 | 22.42 | |
| 23 | Jimmy Reese | Ukiah CA | 22.32 | 2 | 22.32 | |
| 24 | Chris Kinley | Lake Havasue City AZ | 22.29 | 3.79 | 22.29 | |
| 25 | Robert Lee | Altaville CA | 22.17 | 22.17 | ||
| 26 | Donnie Scroggins | Kingman AZ | 22.2 | 0.2 | 3.12 | 22 |
| 27 | Paul Hodges | Glendale AZ | 22.09 | 0.2 | 21.89 | |
| 28 | Kevin Stewart | Elk Grove CA | 21.8 | 21.8 | ||
| 29 | Jim Jared | Dolan Springs AZ | 21.65 | 3.49 | 21.65 | |
| 30 | Todd Herman | Gilbert AZ | 21.24 | 2.24 | 21.24 | |
| 31 | Jim Moynagh | Carver MN | 21.2 | 2.26 | 21.2 | |
| 32 | Zack Holwerda | Phoenix AZ | 21.02 | 4.47 | 21.02 | |
| 33 | Joseph Raftery | Las Vegas NV | 20.92 | 2.52 | 20.92 | |
| 34 | John Mackey | Boulder City NV | 21.04 | 0.2 | 20.84 | |
| 35 | Jon Griffith | Mesa AZ | 20.81 | 20.81 | ||
| 36 | Gary Dobyns | Live Oak CA | 20.76 | 20.76 | ||
| 37 | Zachary Elrite | San Jose CA | 20.95 | 0.4 | 3.33 | 20.55 |
| 38 | Cody Compton | Palisade CO | 20.5 | 3.8 | 20.5 | |
| 39 | Philip Roesener | Parowan UT | 20.22 | 4.16 | 20.22 | |
| 40 | Brent Becker | Henderson NV | 19.9 | 19.9 | ||
| 41 | Tommy Jonovich | Phoenix AZ | 19.87 | 19.87 | ||
| 42 | Douglas Minor | Riverside CA | 19.86 | 19.86 | ||
| 43 | Tom Leedom | Escondido CA | 19.84 | 19.84 | ||
| 44 | Keith Beever | Mission Viejo CA | 19.98 | 0.2 | 19.78 | |
| 45 | Douglas Jones | North Las vegas NV | 19.92 | 0.2 | 2.12 | 19.72 |
| 46 | Shawn Lee | Arroyo Grande CA | 19.91 | 0.2 | 2.93 | 19.71 |
| 47 | Scott Helleson | Whittier CA | 19.5 | 2.28 | 19.5 | |
| 48 | Garrett Howard | Riverside CA | 19.65 | 0.2 | 2.66 | 19.45 |
| 49 | Cody Spetz | Menifee CA | 19.62 | 0.2 | 2.47 | 19.42 |
| 50 | Keith Espe | Phoenix AZ | 19.27 | 3.33 | 19.27 | |
| 51 | Klayton Belden | El Cajon CA | 19.22 | 19.22 | ||
| 52 | Neil Flores | Menifee CA | 19.13 | 2.3 | 19.13 | |
| 53 | Rusty Salewske | Alpine CA | 19.03 | 19.03 | ||
| 54 | Andy Manahl | Mesa AZ | 19.02 | 2.76 | 19.02 | |
| 55 | Adam East | San Diego CA | 19.2 | 0.2 | 19 | |
| 56 | Ken Whalen | Lompoc CA | 18.95 | 18.95 | ||
| 57 | Mike Brillhart | Waddell AZ | 19.07 | 0.2 | 2.54 | 18.87 |
| 58 | George Kramer | Lake Elsinore CA | 19.02 | 0.2 | 2.49 | 18.82 |
| 59 | Travis Richards | Henderson NV | 18.61 | 2.44 | 18.61 | |
| 60 | Gary Pinholster | Lake Havasu City AZ | 18.39 | 4.84 | 18.39 | |
| 61 | Guy Savidan | Yorba Linda CA | 18.35 | 18.35 | ||
| 62 | Andrew Napoleon | Mesa AZ | 18.51 | 0.2 | 18.31 | |
| 62 | John Weisfuss | Oxnard CA | 18.71 | 0.4 | 1.92 | 18.31 |
| 64 | Kyle Grover | Trabuco Canyon CA | 18.42 | 0.2 | 2.18 | 18.22 |
| 65 | Cody Meyer | Grass Valley CA | 18.2 | 18.2 | ||
| 66 | Marco Valdez | Richland WA | 18.12 | 18.12 | ||
| 67 | John Morrow | Brea CA | 18.09 | 3.25 | 18.09 | |
| 68 | Jiggs Benn | Myrtle Creek OR | 17.77 | 17.77 | ||
| 69 | Mike Rennie | Pioche NV | 17.93 | 0.2 | 1.91 | 17.73 |
| 70 | Steven Bowlin | Coolidge AZ | 17.73 | 0.2 | 17.53 | |
| 71 | Jay Guterding | Redding CA | 17.46 | 17.46 | ||
| 71 | William “Billy” Skinner | Carlsbad CA | 17.66 | 0.2 | 17.46 | |
| 73 | Marco Fenelli | San Diego CA | 17.16 | 2.26 | 17.16 | |
| 74 | Kody “Bucky” Leigh | Yuma AZ | 17.07 | 17.07 | ||
| 75 | Jeff Rutt | Winchester CA | 17.01 | 17.01 | ||
| 76 | Mike Folkestad | Villa Park CA | 16.98 | 16.98 | ||
| 77 | Don Iovino | Burbank CA | 16.94 | 3.82 | 16.94 | |
| 78 | Mike Caruso | Peoria AZ | 16.92 | 16.92 | ||
| 79 | Shaun Bailey | Lake Havasu City AZ | 16.78 | 16.78 | ||
| 80 | Ed Arledge | Valley Center CA | 16.73 | 16.73 | ||
| 81 | Kevin Caruso | Glendale AZ | 16.92 | 0.2 | 16.72 | |
| 82 | Danny Moraga | Hesperia CA | 16.89 | 0.2 | 1.99 | 16.69 |
| 83 | Peter Manfrina | Lompoc CA | 16.67 | 2.62 | 16.67 | |
| 84 | Daniel Price II | San Diego CA | 16.64 | 16.64 | ||
| 85 | Dick Watson | Alta Loma CA | 16.5 | 3.37 | 16.5 | |
| 86 | Rusty Brown | Tustin CA | 16.45 | 16.45 | ||
| 87 | Don Gage | Grizzly Flats CA | 16.41 | 16.41 | ||
| 88 | Roy Hawk | Lake Havasu City AZ | 16.75 | 0.4 | 16.35 | |
| 89 | Josh Bertrand | Gilbert AZ | 16.3 | 16.3 | ||
| 90 | Gunnar Stanton | Boulder City NV | 16.26 | 16.26 | ||
| 91 | Justin Patti | Phoenix AZ | 16.18 | 16.18 | ||
| 92 | Jamie Shaw | Coolidge AZ | 16.05 | 3.13 | 16.05 | |
| 93 | Marvin Barellano | Monterey Park CA | 15.98 | 2.15 | 15.98 | |
| 94 | Dave Wendrich | Elko NV | 15.88 | 15.88 | ||
| 95 | Randy Estrada, M.D. | Corona CA | 15.77 | 2.31 | 15.77 | |
| 96 | Matt Shura | Gilbert AZ | 15.81 | 0.2 | 15.61 | |
| 97 | John Noble | Adair Village OR | 15.54 | 3.68 | 15.54 | |
| 98 | Ryan Kjellberg | Yucaipa CA | 15.53 | 15.53 | ||
| 99 | Kona Borja | Henderson NV | 15.46 | 3.69 | 15.46 | |
| 100 | Steve Pool | Weldon CA | 15.36 | 2.78 | 15.36 | |
| 101 | Vern Ridgway | Chandler AZ | 15.05 | 15.05 | ||
| 102 | Stephen Pike | Las Vegas NV | 14.9 | 14.9 | ||
| 103 | Ray Arbesu | Henderson NV | 15.16 | 0.4 | 2.79 | 14.76 |
| 104 | Ben Byrd | Moab UT | 14.64 | 14.64 | ||
| 105 | Devin McDonald | Las Vegas NV | 14.56 | 0.2 | 2.9 | 14.36 |
| 106 | Wade Headrick | Herriman UT | 14.33 | 14.33 | ||
| 107 | Raymond Archer | Greeley CO | 14.28 | 14.28 | ||
| 108 | Gary Freeman | Las Vegas NV | 14.25 | 14.25 | ||
| 109 | Claude Sims | Boerne TX | 14.11 | 14.11 | ||
| 110 | Jamie Cyphers | Cedar City UT | 14.01 | 14.01 | ||
| 111 | Michael Phua | Chino CA | 14.05 | 0.2 | 13.85 | |
| 112 | Tom Lowery | Santee CA | 13.75 | 2.89 | 13.75 | |
| 113 | Mark Poe | Coolidge AZ | 13.72 | 13.72 | ||
| 114 | Kevin Gross | Claremont CA | 13.87 | 0.2 | 3.3 | 13.67 |
| 115 | Mooseok Park | 13.63 | 2.09 | 13.63 | ||
| 116 | Michael McLernon | Oceanside CA | 13.46 | 2.64 | 13.46 | |
| 117 | Jason Borofka | Salinas CA | 13.21 | 13.21 | ||
| 118 | Mark Rauenzahn | San Diego CA | 13.2 | 5.65 | 13.2 | |
| 118 | David Kemper | Tempe AZ | 13.4 | 0.2 | 13.2 | |
| 120 | Steve Molinari | Waddell AZ | 13.06 | 0.2 | 12.86 | |
| 121 | Rich Tauber | Camarillo CA | 12.78 | 2.14 | 12.78 | |
| 122 | Sean Coffey | Mesa AZ | 12.77 | 12.77 | ||
| 122 | Ricky Shabazz | Rialto CA | 12.77 | 12.77 | ||
| 124 | Josh Polfer | Nampa ID | 12.75 | 2.72 | 12.75 | |
| 125 | Travis Jewell | Sandy UT | 12.82 | 0.2 | 12.62 | |
| 126 | Rob Erautt | Yucaipa CA | 12.54 | 12.54 | ||
| 127 | Ron Hammett | La Mesa CA | 12.31 | 12.31 | ||
| 128 | Josh Rhodes | Lake Havasu City AZ | 12.25 | 12.25 | ||
| 129 | Jim Hawkes | Apache Junction AZ | 12.43 | 0.2 | 12.23 | |
| 130 | Keith Ferlanie | Henderson NV | 12.2 | 12.2 | ||
| 131 | Kenichi Tanaka | Minamikawachigun | 12.12 | 12.12 | ||
| 132 | Chris Gosselaar | Clovis CA | 12.06 | 3.72 | 12.06 | |
| 133 | Elliott Holsbo | Lakeside CA | 11.99 | 11.99 | ||
| 134 | Billy Hines | Vacaville CA | 11.37 | 11.37 | ||
| 135 | Jeffrey Scott Allen | Flagstaff AZ | 11.13 | 3.78 | 11.13 | |
| 136 | Justin Hanold | Poway CA | 11.32 | 0.2 | 11.12 | |
| 137 | Clayton Meyer | Henderson NV | 11.07 | 11.07 | ||
| 138 | Mark Lassagne | San Ramon CA | 10.99 | 10.99 | ||
| 139 | Oscar Torrado | Mira Loma CA | 10.81 | 10.81 | ||
| 140 | Murray White | Glendale AZ | 10.65 | 10.65 | ||
| 141 | Ernie Stumpf | Carrollton TX | 10.52 | 10.52 | ||
| 142 | Matt Nadeau | Grass Valley CA | 10.38 | 10.38 | ||
| 143 | Edward John | Tustin CA | 9.75 | 9.75 | ||
| 144 | Bill Griffith | Ventura CA | 9.21 | 9.21 | ||
| 145 | Jim Elliott | Redding CA | 8.59 | 8.59 | ||
| 146 | Norman Santos | Rosamond CA | 8.46 | 8.46 | ||
| 147 | Cody Murray | Nampa ID | 8.39 | 8.39 | ||
| 148 | Brian Carnahan | Flagstaff AZ | 8.57 | 0.2 | 8.37 | |
| 149 | Ed Shaver | Lake Havasu City AZ | 8.19 | 8.19 | ||
| 150 | Tony Richards | Oceanside CA | 8.13 | 8.13 | ||
| 151 | Dylan Maxon | Phoenix AZ | 7.71 | 7.71 | ||
| 152 | Robert Schoessler | Henderson NV | 7.64 | 7.64 | ||
| 153 | Don McBride | Roosevelt AZ | 7.55 | 0.2 | 7.35 | |
| 154 | Sam Rosefsky | 7.25 | 7.25 | |||
| 155 | Michael Rigney | Janesville CA | 7.24 | 2.41 | 7.24 | |
| 156 | Jason Burchfield | Las Vegas NV | 7.06 | 7.06 | ||
| 157 | Melvin Williams | Chula Vista CA | 7.01 | 7.01 | ||
| 158 | Fred Krumsiek | Glendale AZ | 6.58 | 6.58 | ||
| 159 | Young “Bradley” Yang | 6.38 | 3.12 | 6.38 | ||
| 160 | Larry Triplett | Aurora CO | 5.12 | 5.12 | ||
| 161 | Neil Campbell | Mirrietta CA | 4.34 | 4.34 | ||
| 162 | Chris Morris | Wingman AZ | 3.58 | 3.58 | ||
