BONNIE CHRIST IS FIRST WOMAN TO WIN MERCURY OUTBOARDS/CHEECA REDBONE IN 16 YEAR HISTORY
Former Florida Marlins pitcher Bill Hurst wins celebrity crown
Naples' Dr. Mike Gallops wins Mercury Redbone trilogy series title

ISLAMORADA, Florida Keys(Dec. 8)- Last year Bonnie Christ won the lady grand champion title in the Mercury Outboards/Cheeca Redbone Celebrity Tournament. This year, theAlexandria,Va.executive became the first woman in the 16-year history of the tournament to capture the grand champion title outright among the 134 angler field.

Guided by Mercury pro team Capt. Andy Thompson of Homestead, Christ caught four bonefish Saturday and four redfish Sunday, all on bait, to make four combinations of "redbones." She took home a stainless steel Rolex timepiece along with artwork as a part of her winnings in the awards ceremony at Cheeca Lodge.

To further cap off the celebrity charity event that helps fund research efforts for cystic fibrosis, Christ and fishing partner Joe Viar, also from Alexandria and both long time supporters of the tournaments, won the team grand championship title with three bonefish Viar released. Christ also released the most bonefish for that award.

Considering the cold front that dropped temperatures and brought windy conditions to theFloridaBaywaters on Saturday, Christ's performance was considered remarkable. "It was one of those memorable days," Christ said, "like the time I caught three permits in a day."

On Sunday she listened to Thompson's instructions to pick up extra points for redfish and bonefish combinations by "catching four redfish today". Christ released all four redfish before lunch in two different places and in different ways sight-casting for some and blind-casting into troughs for others.

"I stayed ready," she said.

Dr. Mike Gallops,Naples, was the runner-up angler, catching 12 reds and two bonefish all on bait. But his second place finish helped add to his series point total to win the Mercury Redbone trilogy series title outright. He held off the efforts of Dan Zicari,Vero Beach,Fla., who he was tied with at 1,500 points going into the weekend after competing in the Mercury S.L.A.M. inKey Westand the Mercury Baybone inKey Largo. Zicari had three bonefish and three redfish for the weekend.

Gallops took home a gold Presidential Rolex watch and the series blue blazer sport jacket. He partnered with Robert Collins,Naples, who won the series championship last year. They were guided by Capt. Rich Tudor, Islamorada.

Former Florida Marlins' reliever Bill Hurst,Miami, won the celebrity division with a bonefish and four redfish. He was guided by Capt. Tony Lay, Islamorada. Former jai alai star Joey Cornblit,Plantation,Fla., was the first runner-up celebrity. Guided by Capt. Tim Hoover,Marathon,Fla., Cornblit caught one bonefish and a single redfish. Hurst and Cornblit beat fellow celebrities which included baseball's Wade Boggs and Tim Wakefield, basketball's John Havlicek and football's Ken Stabler and Ted Hendricks.

Stacy Telenzak,Ocean Ridge,Fla., and Ken Weitz, Jupiter,Fla., were the first runner-up team guided by Capt. Rick Miller, Islamorada. Weitz also won the spin-plug division title. Rick Moeller, Islamorada, won the pro division guided by Capt. Glenn Flutie. Frank Delucas,Ft.Lauderdale, guided by Capt. Duane Baker won the fly title on a single bonefish.The largest bonefish was released byMikeForrester, Islamorada, guided by Capt. Billy Ellenwood,Islamorada,Fla., andJohn Malloy,Miami, released the largest redfish guided by Capt. Jim Wilcox, Islamorada.

The Mercury Redbone win also qualifies Christ to advance to the fourth annual Rolex/IGFA Inshore Championship Tournament competing against more than 40 anglers from around the world next May.

On Friday, Tim Mahaffey,Miami, won the Tenth Annual Seamaster Superfly, a one-day, one fly tournament prelude to the Redbone. Guided by Capt. Duane Baker, Mahaffey caught three redfish and three bonefish among a field of 23 fly fishermen.

The Redbone is the final tournament of two dozen for the year which has included Mercury Redbone@Large and Mercury Redbone Red*Trout events held worldwide and founded by Capt. Gary and Susan Ellis. All totaled the events are expected to raise approximately $1 million for cystic fibrosis research in 2003.

16th Annual Mercury Outboards/Cheeca Redbone
Tournament Results
-Dec. 5-7, 2003, Cheeca Lodge,Islamorada,Fla.

Grand Champion Angler: Bonnie Christ,Alexandria,Va., guided by Capt. Andy Thompson,Homestead,Fla.

Celebrity Grand Champion: Bill Hurst (former Florida Marlins pitcher),Miami,Fla., guided by Capt. Tony Lay,Islamorada,Fla.

Pro Grand Champion Angler: Rick Moeller, Islamorada, guided by Capt. Glenn Flutie, Islamorada

Team Grand Champion Anglers: Bonnie Christ and Joe Viar,Alexandria,Va., guided by Capt. Andy Thompson

First Runner-Up Angler: Dr. Mike Gallops,Naples, guided by Capt. Rich Tudor, Islamorada

First Runner-Up Celebrity: Joey Cornblit, (former jai alai star)Plantation,Fla., guided by Capt. Tim Hoover,Marathon,Fla.

First Runner-Up Team: Stacy Telenzak, Ocean Ridge, Fla., and Ken Weitz, Jupiter, Fla., guided by Capt. Rick Miller, Islamorada, Fla.

Spin-Plug Division Champion: Ken Weitz, guided by Capt. Rick Miller

Fly Division Champion: Frank Delucas,Ft.Lauderdale, guided by Capt. Duane Baker, Tavernier,Fla.

Most Bonefish Releases: Bonnie Christ,(4),guided by Capt. Andy Thompson

Most Redfish Releases: Dr.Mike Gallops (12),guided by Capt. Rich Tudor

Largest Bonefish: MikeForrester, Islamorada, guided by Capt. Billy Ellenwood, Islamorada

Largest Redfish: John Malloy,Miami, guided by Capt. Jim Wilcox, Islamorada

Total Boats 67

Total Anglers 134

Total Fish Caught: 177 fish (148 redfish and 29 bonefish

MEDIA CONTACT: Pete Johnson
Johnson Communications,Scottsdale,Ariz.
E-mail: johnsoncom@aol.com