UPDATE: The White Marlin Open issued an official statement Friday, August 26:
Today, Friday August 26, White Marlin Open, Inc. filed a Complaint for Interpleader in the Circuit Court for Worcester County, Maryland. By doing this the tournament directors seek to have a formal court proceeding in which a judge will determine the issues as to which angler or anglers will receive the prize.
The White Marlin Open does not share in, or receive any portion of the award, no matter to whom it is awarded, nor does it receive any portion of the money paid into court. It has no monetary interest in the proceeds of the prize money.
The sole purpose in filing the Interpleader with the Court is to preserve the integrity of the tournament, its rules and awards, and due to the circumstances of the matter at issue, the directors and the Tournament judges believed that the best way of resolving all controversies was to seek a judicial determination of the matter. This way, a judge can consider the matter in its entirety and make an official judgment as to the award of the prize."
Tournament officials said in court documents filed Friday that Heasley was administered two polygraph exams by two different examiners and failed them both. Court documents state that Defendant Heasley "both attempted to use countermeasures and had been deceptive when he answered three of the following questions that were asked to determine whether Defendant Heasley violated any specific rules of the tournament." Those questions were:
- Did you pass the sea buoy before 4:00 a.m. on Tuesday, 8/9/16?
- Did you have any assistance in reeling in the fish on Tuesday, 8/9/16?
- Have you been truthful in answering all of these questions?
Neither Defendent Heasley, nor his captain and mates passed any of the polygraph exams administered. Heasley then rejected a request by WMO officials to execute a release that would allow WMO to distrubute the $2,818,662.00 in prize money that would have otherwise been paid to Heasley to the other named Defendants in this matter.
To view the court documents, click to
whitemarlinopen.com/media/files/InterpleaderDocuments(1).pdf.
August 24: Big news out of Ocean City
"White Marlin Open officials are withholding the $2,800,000 prize money following mandatory polygraph test given to angler
Phil Heasley and the crew on the “Kallinassa.” Results indicate to tournament officials that there was an apparent rules violation and Mr. Heasley would not be awarded the $2,818,660 in award money. Officials said that a determination will be made on how to distribute the winnings according to tournament rules and regulations.
Heasley is an angler out of Naples, Florida.
OFFICIAL STATEMENT: Jim Motsko, President of the White Marlin Open statement:
On August 9, the winning angler in the white marlin category provided catch information for the white marlin, which, as it turned out, would be the sole qualifying white marlin in the tournament.
Subsequent investigation as required by the rules and regulations of the White Marlin Open indicated a possible violation of the rules. Accordingly, in an effort to achieve the utmost fairness, the White Marlin Open directors met with independent judges and complete information was provided to the judges for their input with regard to the issue of the potential violation of the rules.
After much discussion, and providing evidence of the possible violation of the tournament rules, the judges agreed that the prize would not be awarded to the boat catching the qualifying white marlin, but would, in accordance with the rules of the tournament, be withheld pending the determination of the proper recipient of the prize money.
The White Marlin Open strives to obtain the highest integrity and level of transparency in fairness in all of its awards and determination of adherence to the rules and regulations in all cases,” the statement reads. “It is for these reasons that the tournament directors, in coordination with the independent judges in the tournament, have made the determination to withhold the winning prize until it can be ensured that the prize is being paid to the proper recipient thereof. Tournament officials said that they "can't comment further right now."