Tournament nets big payoffs for successful anglers

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MARIANNE PATON The winning team for this year’s David Lee Root Jr. Memorial Fishing Tournament was Century Link II. Shown accepting their award were team members, Jason Shimko and Derek Carlson.

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Shown accepting the awards for both second and third place in this year’s David Lee Root Jr. fishing tournament are team Private Client, Patrick Ewald. Phil Ciccarello and Jimmy White. Not shown are David and Mikal Ciccarello.

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David and Debbie Root of Matlacha Bait and Tackle were on hand to present the awards to this year’s David Lee Root Jr. Memorial Tournament.

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A clear sky and light chop greeted anglers during this year’s David Lee Root Jr. Memorial Fishing Tournament. Even with a postponement due to inclement weather, 57 teams turned out to enter catches in during this annual event. Taking the first place prizes was team Century Link II, Jason Shimko with an impressive total of 94 combined inches. Both second and third place was claimed by Private Client, Patrick Ewald, Phil Ciccarello, Jimmy White and David and Makal Ciccarello. The fourth place prize was presented to Whee Doggy, Joe Mansfield, Doug Root, Greg Alcober and Cliff Utt and fifth prize was claimed by Cape Rehab, Scott Duval, RJ Hagewood and Kevin McCombie.

This photo and released competition was held to benefit the Lee Memorial Trauma Center and according to organizers, over the last six years, funds donated as a result of the tournament have amounted to more than $85,000. Recently a portion of these funds allowed the trauma center to add a new rehab room which was dedicated to the memory of David Lee Root Jr. who lost his life as a result of an auto accident and for whom the tournament is dedicated.