WON Bass Announces 2019 U.S. Open Details
Organization Reveals New Sponsors Expanded Field, Increased Payout and More
San Clemente, Calif. – May 25, 2019
– WON Bass, the oldest and longest running tournament fishing
organization in the western United States, announces details of the 2019 WON Bass U.S. Open presented by
Bass Cat Boats and Mercury Outboards, to be held October 14 to 16 in Las Vegas and Lake Mead.
The U.S. Open Livestream will continue in 2019 with new sponsors for its eighth year. This year, the live
broadcasts will be brought to you by Brigford Foods and Lifesource Water Systems. Brigford Foods, run by Al
Brigford, has long been a partner of the U.S. Open and will be expanding its role for 2019, and Lifesource
Water Systems is operated by Jay Wright, a long time western pro angler is also supporting the live stream.
Already one of the most lucrative bass fishing tournaments in the country, WON Bass decided to increase the
field size to 250 boats for 2019, but instead of using the additional participants as a profit center, the
organization is expanding the payout to the field. The payout structure will remain a traditional one-in-five
structure, but the amounts will be higher.
Headlining the new, enhanced payout will be a first place prize that includes a new 2019 Bass Cat Puma FTD /
Mercury ProXS 250 package valued at $64,000; but also features a $100,000 cash payout that makes the total
first place prize valued at $164,000 before any big bass or big stringer daily bonuses the champion may earn.
WON Bass tournament director Bill Egan said that the enhancements are in honor of the event. “It’s time we
take the WON Bass U.S. Open to the next level here for the West Coast,” said Egan. “The US Open has a rich
history and deserves nothing more than to be recognized as one of the Nation’s Premier events; this is proof of
that position.”
Egan also revealed that the organization was thinking of the anglers when deciding to enhance the rewards for
the event. “The West’s pros are some of the most amazing anglers in the game,” he said. “We decided to
expand the field to 250 anglers and expand the payout. In doing so, we realized that nobody fishes this
tournament to finish in second place, so we added to the Champions purse, and spread some down the field as
well; it shows our organizations’ commitment to their anglers.”
Along with the additional purse, WON Bass is announcing the formulation of an Angler of the Year for 2020 for
anglers who compete in the Arizona Open at Lake Havasu, the California Open at Clear Lake and culminating
at the U.S. Open at Lake Mead. Details as to the purse are still being finalized, however, there will be a cash
payout to the angler who has the highest points total after all three events to claim the Angler of the Year title.
Stay tuned for more details of the 2019 WON Bass U.S. Open at wonbass.com, and on our social media pages,
and for the complete payout, see below.
2019 WON Bass U.S. Open Payout
Place
Cash Purse
Merchandise
1
$100,000
$64,000 – Bass Cat Puma FTD / Mercury 250 ProXS
2
$22,000
3
$13,000
4
$12,000
5
$11,000
6
$10,000
7
$9,000
8
$8,000
9
$7,000
10
$6,000
11
$5,000
12
$5,000
13
$5,000
14
$5,000
15
$5,000
16
$4,000
17
$4,000
18
$4,000
19
$4,000
20
$4,000
21
$3,500
22
$3,500
23
$3,500
24
$3,500
25
$3,500
26
$3,500
27
$3,500
28
$3,500
29
$3,500
30
$3,500
31
$3,000
32
$3,000
33
$3,000
34
$3,000
35
$3,000
36
$3,000
37
$3,000
38
$3,000
39
$3,000
40
$3,000
41
$3,000
42
$3,000
43
$3,000
44
$3,000
45
$3,000
46
$3,000
47
$3,000
48
$3,000
49
$3,000
50
$3,000
Total Daily Big Bass and Big Stringer Bonuses
$21,000
Total Cash Payout
$359,000
Bass Cat / Mercury Prize Boat
$64,000
Total Payout
$423,000