Florida angler uses Top-10 Potomac finish to propel him to first AOY title

FLIPPIN, ARK -- Ranger Pro Scott Martin had been so close to an Angler of the Year award so many times throughout his acclaimed 15-year professional career. Until now, the coveted title had eluded him even when tournament championships had not - demonstrated by more than $2 million in career earnings, a Forrest Wood Cup win and four Tour-level victories in that span.

After a year highlighted by five Top-20 finishes, including a sixth-place finish in the regular-season finale on the Potomac River, Martin finally added FLW Tour Angler of the Year award to his already stellar resumé, pocketing a $100,000 prize purse and an automatic qualification in the 2016 Forrest Wood Cup. In addition, Martin took home a fully-rigged Ranger Z518C equipped with an Evinrude 200 h.p. outboard - a bonus from participating in Ranger Cup, the industry's most lucrative contingency program.

Martin, whose father Roland Martin won nine professional Angler of the Year titles throughout the course of his historic career, hails from a famous fishing family and is no stranger to pressure-filled situations. Though he began the final FLW Tour regular-season event in third place in the Angler of the Year standings, Martin had the award secured by the third day of the four-day event, achieving the pinnacle for season-long consistency on the same water that brought him his last regular-season tournament win in 2012.

"I set out this year with a determination to win the Angler of the Year and I did it," Martin said. "I don't think it's sunk in yet, to be honest. I was so stressed, but I'm not stressed anymore. I could bust out crying at any moment. I've worked hard for 15 years, and we, my family and I, finally did it."

Martin returns to the competition later this summer in the 2015 Forrest Wood Cup, which will run August 20-23 on Lake Ouachita near Hot Springs, Ark.

"We've been privileged to know Scott and his family for many years. And even as a young guy, there was never a doubt he'd become a professional angler someday - and a very good one at that," said Ranger Boats President Randy Hopper. "Scott has accomplished so much in his career and he's also been an exceptional representative for Ranger. We couldn't be happier to see him add this award to his lengthy list of career accomplishments and wish him and the rest of the Ranger Pros the best of luck in the upcoming Forrest Wood Cup."

Ranger Pro Scott Martin: 2015 FLW Tour Regular Season Stats
Lake Toho: 44th Place ($10,000)
Lewis Smith Lake: 5th Place ($19,000)
Beaver Lake: 16th Place ($12,000)
Lake Eufaula: 11th Place ($11,909)
Lake Chickamauga: 15th Place ($11,634)
Potomac River: 6th Place ($16,949)
rest of the Ranger Pros the best of luck in the upcoming Forrest Wood Cup."

About Ranger Boats
Headquartered in Flippin, Ark., Ranger Boats is the nation's premier manufacturer of legendary fiberglass and aluminum fishing boats, which include series of bass, multi-species, fish 'n play, waterfowl utility and saltwater boats. Founded in 1968 by Forrest L. Wood, Ranger Boats continues its commitment to building the highest-quality, strongest-performing boats on the water. For more information, go to RangerBoats.com.


Media Contact: Josh Ward
Blue Heron Communications
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