Lourdes Charity Buddy Bass Tournament

PADUCAH, KY— Fishermen from across the region are lining up to participate in a new autumn bass tournament. Lourdes Foundation’s First Annual Charity Buddy Bass Tournament has landed the support of Wal-Mart FLW Outdoors to coordinate the tournament. Proceeds from the event will benefit Lourdes Foundation to support the needs of Lourdes and assist the poor and under-served.

The tournament, scheduled for 6 a.m. (or safe light) on Saturday, October 8, at Kentucky Dam Marina, will feature fierce competition and big prize money. Winners will take home a guaranteed first place prize of $3,000! Second and third place finishers will cash in on $1,500 and $750 guaranteed prize money respectively. A Big Bass Contest will add to the spirit of competition, as will 80 percent of the entry fees paid to 20 percent of the field.

Entry fees are $80 per two-person team if postmarked by October 1, or $100 after the postmark deadline with cash-only accepted at registration. Registration forms can be printed from www.lourdes-pad.org or call (270) 444-2353.

“Lourdes Foundation is excited to host a charity event dedicated to the sportsman,” said Missy Hendley, Foundation Director. “Bass fishing is an immensely popular and growing sport, and the anglers in our area have been so generous and supportive of our efforts to establish a first-rate annual tournament.”

Local professional fishermen Terry Bolton, Mark Menendez and Dan Morehead will headline a fun, family-friendly Pre-Tournament Event on Friday, October 7 at Lourdes’ Marshall Nemer Pavilion from 6 to 8 p.m. The public is invited to come mingle with the fishing pros, enjoy dinner provided by Popeye’s Chicken, browse booths of fishing and sporting goods equipment, get a close-up look at the latest in bass boats and trucks, and participate in health screenings. Late registration will be open during the pre-tournament event, and a 50/50 raffle will allow one lucky ticket-holder to win a pot of cash! A live auction by Robert Alexander will be conducted to auction off the first ten starting boat numbers, along with a set of four Tennessee Titans tickets.

A number of generous corporate sponsors have made Lourdes Foundation’s inaugural bass tournament possible, including Gold sponsors: Country Chevrolet, Gander Mountain, Heartland Sportsman Magazine, Jackson Purchase Energy Corp., Lourdes Auxiliary, Popeye’s / Taco John’s, Swift & Staley Mechanical & Electrical Contractors, Wal-Mart FLW Outdoors and WKYQ / WilliE 102.1. Other supporters include Collyer Outboard Repair, Denton & Keuler, Dunn’s Sporting Goods, IBEW Local 816, Jet A Marina, Purchase Anesthesia PSC, Jim Smith Contracting, and Dr. Charles Ross / Vascular Specialists.

For more information about Lourdes Foundation’s First Annual Charity Buddy Bass Tournament, call (270) 444-2353 or www.lourdes-pad.org.