Kriet leads Van Dam by two ounces in Bassmaster Classic

Long, only North Carolina entrant, misses cut

BASS photo

Jeff Kriet leads the Bassmaster Classic going into the final day, but Kevin VanDam is right on his heels.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- Oklahomas Jeff Kriet bought the biggest limit on Saturday's second day of competition in the Bassmasters Classic on Alabama's Lay Lake, and it earned him a 2-ounce lead entering Sunday's final round.

Lurking close behind in second is Kevin Van Dam of Kalamazoo, Mich., the 2009 Bass Angler of the Year and first-round leader. Kriet had 15-10 on Saturday for a 32-1 total; Van Dam added 12-7 on Saturday for a 31-15 total.

Rounding out the top five are Todd Faircloth of Jasper, Texas, with 13-12 for 31-14; past Classi champion Michael Iaconelli with 12-3 fo 26-12, and Alabaman Russ Love with 11-10 for 25-11.

The only North Carolina fishermen in the field of 51, Brent Long of Cornelius, didn't fare well, catching only one bass that weighed 1-2, for a 2-day total of 7-10. He finished 39th and missed the second-day cut to 25.