OCEAN CITY- When the final numbers for the 19th Annual Captain Steve Harmon Poor Girls’ Open were tallied, the 2012 event was one of the best ever with a significant increase in the number of boats from last year and over $62,000 raised for the American Cancer Society, bringing the total raised for the ACS over the years to over half a million dollars.
This year, 108 boats and 499 lady anglers participated in the Poor Girls Open, representing a significant increase in the 88 boats and 403 lady anglers that participated in the 2011 event. The beneficiary of the increase was the ACS, which was the recipient of $62,500 from the tournament this year alone. Since the ACS became the beneficiary of the tournament’s proceeds several years ago, the Poor Girls Open has now raised $550,000 for the organization.
The increase in the number of boats and angler participating this year also represented an increase in the amount of prize money doled out to the winners. This year, $95,980 in prize money was awarded to the winners in several categories, up from the $81,390 in prize money awarded in 2011.
In the Billfish Release Division, the team on the “Give It Away” took first place with three white marlin and two blue marlin releases and earned $33,260. The “Pumpin Hard 66” took second with four white marlin releases and earned $19,956 in prize money. The “Muff Diver” finished third in the billfish release division and earned $2,000 but was not in the Calcuttas. The “Reel Joy” finished fourth with four white marlin releases, but earned $11,304 because of added entry levels.
In the Tuna Division, it was angler Krissy Meyers on the “Evil Eye” taking first place with a 64.7-pounder worth $8,615. Melissa Wayson, also on the “Evil Eye,” took second and earned $3,969. Lisa Meyers on the “Fin-Ness” took third in the tuna division with a 60.5-pounder worth $2,646.
In the Dolphin Division, angler Patty Link on the “Reel Desire” took first place with an 18.1-pounder worth $8,615. Becky Johnson on the “Miss Kittie” was second with a 13.4-pounder, but was not in the added entry levels. Krissy Baiocca on the “Second Chance” was third with an 11.3-pound dolphin worth $3,969, while Ruth Kloetzi on the “Jezebel” was third with a 9.8-pounder worth $2,646. The Top Junior Angler Award went to Cheyenne Peete on the “No Quarter” with two white marlin releases.