Southwestern Tournament Results

Front row: Michael Han (SJF); Chi Quang (OCC), Elaine Gong (OCC), Julie Hanada (SJF), Glen Nagumo (SJF).
Back row: Cindy Han (SJF), Ralph Hardin (OCC), Glen Ozawa (OCC), Austin Emmerling (OCC), Chris Korich (OCC), Henry Mittel (OCC). Not pictured: John Thiele (OCC).

The annual Southwestern Tournament, hosted each year by the Long Beach Casting Club, took place over the Presidents’ Day weekend. Braving the strongest storm in at least 8 years, 10 casters from The Oakland Casting Club and the San Jose Flycasters were on hand bright and early (albeit a bit damp) at the LBCC facility early Saturday morning. Amid downed trees, huge puddles and muddy conditions, the Tournament was efficiently run with great camaraderie, fine competition, and good food.

Representing The Oakland Casting Club: Glen Ozawa, Chris Korich, Henry Mittel, Elaine Gong, Ralph Hardin, John Thiele and Austin Emmerling. The neighboring club, The San Jose Flycasters, had Glen Nagumo, and first-time casters Michael Han and Julie Hamada representing SJF. This club will host the next American Casting Association National Tournament in August 2017.

      

Intermittent rain and ever-changing strong winds challenged the casters during the first event: Trout Fly Accuracy. OCC members took the top 5 places in the ‘A’ Division (all scoring 94 or better), with Chris Korich taking first place; 1^st and 3^rd place in the ‘B’ Division also went to OCC members. First-time Southwestern Tournament participants from the San Jose Flycasters, Michael Han (a student of Chris Korich) and Julie Hanada (coached by Glen Nagumo), took 2^nd and 3^rd places, respectively, in the ‘C’ Division. Although conditions were constantly changing and challenging for competitors, the tournament went along smoothly, and complete results are posted at the end of this article.

As befitting the difficulties of driving to the event and dealing with the conditions, only one perfect score was posted for the entire 2 days. Chris shot a perfect 100 points in ‘A’ Division Wet Fly, to best LBCC’s Mark Tsunawaki and Henry Mittel who both shot 98’s, then 96 and 95, respectively, in the cast-off.

Chris Korich and Henry Mittel battled all weekend for dominance, and in the end, Henry edged Chris by ONE point in the fight for the All Accuracy title (776 to 775 points out of a possible 800).

All casters and guests were treated to wonderful meals throughout the tournament, and Long Beach members, especially the “Three Marks” (Mark Lipe, Mark Tsunawaki and Mark Flo), handled the logistics of the 10 casting games with great skill and efficiency that was much appreciated by all participants. We all enjoyed another amazing weekend in Long Beach, despite Mother Nature.

We hope to host many casters at the ‘Northwestern Tournament’, October 21 and 22, 2017 at the Golden Gate Angling and Casting Club. Although we can’t predict the weather conditions, we can promise another great tournament with challenging competitions when we meet in the Fall.

Trout Fly – A Casters

	A Casters	Trout Fly (Cast-offs)
1	Chris Korich	99
2	Henry Mittel	96
3	Glen Ozawa	95 (94)
4	Ralph Hardin	95 (90)
5	John Thiele	94
6	Mike Miller	92
7	Mark Lipe	90
8	Glen Nagumo	89
9	Rick Hilles	87
10	Mark Tsunawaki	85
11	Mark Flo	82

 

Trout Fly – B Casters

	B Casters	Trout Fly
1	Elaine Gong	86
2	Ed Tamson	83
3	Austin Emmerling	78

 

Trout Fly – C Casters

	C Casters	Trout Fly
1	Colin Kumabe	84
2	Michael Han	83
3	Julie Hanada	65

 

Bass Bug – A Casters

	A Casters	Bass Bug (Cast-offs)
1	Chris Korich	98
2	Mark Tsunawaki	96
3	Henry Mittel	95 (98)
4	Mike Miller	95 (90)
5	Ralph Hardin	94
5	John Thiele	94
7	Glen Nagumo	89
8	Mark Flo	88
8	Rick Hilles	88

 

Bass Bug – B Casters

	B Casters	Bass Bug
1	Glen Ozawa	94
2	Christopher Walker	91
3	Mark Lipe	90
4	Austin Emmerling	87
5	Elaine Gong	86
6	Ed Tamson	83

 

Bass Bug – C Casters

	C Casters	Bass Bug
1	Colin Kumabe	83

 

1/4 oz Acc. – A Casters

	A Casters	1/4 oz. Acc.
1	Henry Mittel	96
2	Chris Korich	94
3	Mark Tsunawaki	91
4	Glen Nagumo	82

 

1/4 oz Acc. – B Casters

	B Casters	1/4 oz. Acc.
1	Mark Lipe	92
2	Christopher Walker	90
3	Elaine Gong	84
4	Mark Flo	82
5	Austin Emmerling	81

 

Open Plug – A Casters

	A Casters	Open Plug
1	Henry Mittel	97
2	Chris Korich	94
3	Glen Nagumo	88
4	Mark Tsunawaki	85

 

 

Open Plug – B Casters

	B Casters	Open Plug
1	Mark Lipe	96
2	Austin Emmerling	90
3	Elaine Gong	86
4	Mark Flo	85

 

Angler’s Fly – A Casters

	A Casters	Angler’s Fly
1	Henry Mittel	158
2	Chris Korich	142
3	Glen Nagumo	131
4	Mark Tsunawaki	128

 

Angler’s Fly – B Casters

	B Casters	Angler’s Fly (Second Cast)
1	Mark Flo	111 (106)
2	Austin Emmerling	111 (101)
3	Ed Tamson	110
4	Don Huseman	106
5	Elaine Gong	90

 

 

1/4 oz Dist. – A Casters

	A Casters	1/4 oz Dist.
1	Henry Mittel	234*
2	Chris Korich	201+
3	Mark Tsunawaki	160+
4	Glen Nagumo	139+

 

1/4 oz Dist. – B Casters

	B Casters	1/4 oz Dist.
1	Mark Flo	180*
2	Austin Emmerling	144+

 

1/4 oz Dist. – C Casters

	C Casters	1/4 oz Dist.
1	Colin Kumabe	167*
2	Elaine Gong	126+

 

All Distance Combination

	Caster	Combination	Angler’s Fly	1/4 oz Dist.
1	Henry Mittel	392	158	234
2	Chris Korich	343	142	201
3	Mark Flo	291	111	180
4	Mark Tsunawaki	288	128	160
5	Glen Nagumo	270	131	139
6	Austin Emmerling	255	111	144
7	Elaine Gong	216	90	126
8	Colin Kumabe	167	–	167
9	Ed Tamson	110	110	–
10	Don Huseman	106	106	–

 

Dry Fly – A Casters

	A Casters	Dry Fly (Cast-offs)
1	Henry Mittel	98
2	Chris Korich	97 (99)
3	Glen Nagumo	97 (98)
4	Mike Miller	97 (96)
4	Ralph Hardin	97 (96)
6	Glen Ozawa	96
7	John Thiele	95
7	Mark Tsunawaki	95
9	Mark Lipe	93
10	Mark Flo	90
11	Rick Hilles	84

 

Dry Fly – B Casters

	B Casters	Dry Fly
1	Eric Callow	95
2	Christopher Walker	94
3	Elaine Gong	92
4	Austin Emmerling	87
5	Ed Tamson	85

 

Dry Fly – C Casters

	C Casters	Dry Fly
1	Michael Han	91
2	Colin Kumabe	90
3	Julie Hanada	74

 

Wet Fly – A Casters

	A Casters	Wet Fly (Cast-offs)
1	Chris Korich	100
2	Mark Tsunawaki	98 (96)
3	Henry Mittel	98 (95)
4	Ralph Hardin	95
4	Glen Ozawa	95
6	Rick Hilles	93
7	Glen Nagumo	92
7	Mike Miller	92
9	Mark Lipe	90

 

Wet Fly – B Casters

	B Casters	Wet Fly
1	Mark Flo	97
2	Ed Tamson	96
3	Elaine Gong	93
4	Christopher Walker	89
4	Eric Callow	89
6	Austin Emmerling	86

 

Wet Fly – C Casters

	C Casters	Wet Fly
1	Colin Kumabe	87
2	Michael Han	86

 

3/8 oz Acc. – A Casters

	A Casters	3/8 oz Acc. (Cast-offs)
1	Henry Mittel	98
2	Chris Korich	96
3	Mark Tsunawaki	92(95)
4	Glen Nagumo	92(94)
5	Bob Middo	86

 

3/8 oz Acc. – B Casters

	B Casters	3/8 oz Acc.
1	Mark Flo	90
2	Austin Emmerling	89
3	Mark Lipe	87
4	Elaine Gong	81

 

3/8 oz Acc. – C Casters

	C Casters	3/8 oz Acc.
1	Michael Han	80

 

 

5/8 oz Acc. – A Casters

	A Casters	5/8 oz Acc.
1	Henry Mittel	98
2	Chris Korich	97
3	Glen Nagumo	92
4	Mark Tsunawaki	89
4	Bob Middo	89

 

5/8 oz Acc. – B Casters

	B Casters	5/8 oz Acc.
1	Mark Lipe	88
2	Austin Emmerling	86
3	Elaine Gong	85
3	Mark Flo	85

 

5/8 oz Acc. – C Casters

	C Casters	5/8 oz Acc.
1	Michael Han	85

 

Saturday Accuracy

	Caster	Combination	Trout Fly	Bass Bug	1/4 oz. Acc.	Open Plug
1	Chris Korich	385	99	98	94	94
2	Henry Mittel	384	96	95	96	97
3	Mark Lipe	368	90	90	92	96
4	Mark Tsunawaki	357	85	96	91	85
5	Glen Nagumo	348	89	89	82	88
6	Elaine Gong	342	86	86	84	86
7	Mark Flo	337	82	88	82	85
8	Austin Emmerling	336	78	87	81	90
9	Christopher Walker	271	90	91	90	–
10	Glen Ozawa	189	95	94	–	–
10	Ralph Hardin	189	95	94	–	–
12	John Thiele	188	94	94	–	–
13	Mike Miller	187	92	95	–	–
14	Rick Hilles	175	87	88	–	–
15	Colin Kumabe	167	84	83	–	–
16	Ed Tamson	166	83	83	–	–
17	Michael Han	83	83	–	–	–
18	Julie Hanada	65	65	–	–	–

 

Sunday Accuracy

	Caster	Combination	Dry Fly	Wet Fly	3/8 oz Acc.	5/8 oz Acc.
1	Henry Mittel	392	98	98	98	98
2	Chris Korich	390	97	100	96	97
3	Mark Tsunawaki	374	95	98	92	89
4	Glen Nagumo	373	97	92	92	92
5	Mark Flo	362	90	97	90	85
6	Mark Lipe	358	93	90	87	88
7	Elaine Gong	351	92	93	81	85
8	Austin Emmerling	348	87	86	89	86
9	Michael Han	342	91	86	80	85
10	Ralph Hardin	192	97	95	–	–
11	Glen Ozawa	191	96	95	–	–
12	Mike Miller	189	97	92	–	–
13	Eric Callow	184	95	89	–	–
14	Christopher Walker	183	94	89	–	–
15	Ed Tamson	181	85	96	–	–
16	Rick Hilles	177	84	93	–	–
16	Colin Kumabe	177	90	87	–	–
18	Bob Middo	175	–	–	86	89
19	John Thiele	95	95	–	–	–
20	Julie Hanada	74	74	–	–	–

All Fly Accuracy

	Caster	Combination	Trout Fly	Bass Bug	Dry Fly	Wet Fly
1	Chris Korich	394	99	98	97	100
2	Henry Mittel	387	96	95	98	98
3	Ralph Hardin	381	95	94	97	95
4	Glen Ozawa	380	95	94	96	95
5	Mike Miller	376	92	95	97	92
6	Mark Tsunawaki	374	85	96	95	98
7	Glen Nagumo	367	89	89	97	92
8	Christopher Walker	364	90	91	94	89
9	Mark Lipe	363	90	90	93	90
10	Elaine Gong	357	86	86	92	93
10	Mark Flo	357	82	88	90	97
12	Rick Hilles	352	87	88	84	93
13	Ed Tamson	347	83	83	85	96
14	Colin Kumabe	344	84	83	90	87
15	Austin Emmerling	338	78	87	87	86
16	John Thiele	283	94	94	95	–
17	Michael Han	260	83	–	91	86
18	Eric Callow	184	–	–	95	89

 

 

All Accuracy

	Caster	Combo	Trout Fly	Bass Bug	1/4 oz. Acc.	Open Plug	Dry Fly	Wet Fly	3/8 oz Acc.	5/8 oz Acc.
1	Henry Mittel	776	96	95	96	97	98	98	98	98
2	Chris Korich	775	99	98	94	94	97	100	96	97
3	Mark Tsunawaki	731	85	96	91	85	95	98	92	89
4	Mark Lipe	726	90	90	92	96	93	90	87	88
5	Glen Nagumo	721	89	89	82	88	97	92	92	92
6	Mark Flo	699	82	88	82	85	90	97	90	85
7	Elaine Gong	693	86	86	84	86	92	93	81	85
8	Austin Emmerling	684	78	87	81	90	87	86	89	86
9	Christopher Walker	454	90	91	90	–	94	89	–	–
10	Michael Han	425	83	–	–	–	91	86	80	85
11	Ralph Hardin	381	95	94	–	–	97	95	–	–
12	Glen Ozawa	380	95	94	–	–	96	95	–	–
13	Mike Miller	376	92	95	–	–	97	92	–	–
14	Rick Hilles	352	87	88	–	–	84	93	–	–
15	Ed Tamson	347	83	83	–	–	85	96	–	–
16	Colin Kumabe	344	84	83	–	–	90	87	–	–
17	John Thiele	283	94	94	–	–	95	–	–	–
18	Eric Callow	184	–	–	–	–	95	89	–	–
19	Bob Middo	175	–	–	–	–	–	–	86	89
20	Julie Hanada	139	65	–	–	–	74	–	–	–

 

All Around

	Caster	All-Around	Trout Fly	Bass Bug	1/4 oz. Acc.	Open Plug	Angler’s Fly	1/4 oz Dist.	Dry Fly	Wet Fly	3/8 oz Acc.	5/8 oz Acc.
1	Henry Mittel	14	2	3	1	1	1	1	1	2	1	1
2	Chris Korich	17	1	1	2	2	2	2	2	1	2	2
3	Mark Tsunawaki	37	5	2	3	6	4	4	4	2	3	4
4	Glen Nagumo	39	3	4	5	4	3	6	2	6	3	3
5	Mark Flo	51	6	5	5	6	5	3	6	4	5	6
6	Elaine Gong	57	4	7	4	5	7	7	5	5	7	6
7	Austin Emmerling	58	7	6	7	3	5	5	7	7	6	5