Poor Girl Open raises big bucks for American Cancer Society

Team Tighten up lined up in their matching hot pink shirts for this years Poor Girl’s Open Tournament in Ocean City. This isn’t their first year joining in on the fun and their team leader, Lauren, said it won’t be their last.

“At first it was just a chance to get out and go fishing and have some fun and then we got to the first sign up and we realized it was more about being winners and being strong women doing great things,” said Sarah of Team Tighten Up.

Poor girls Open is an annual ladies only bill fish tournament and the only one of it’s kind on the eastern shore. These ladies are said to be the largest fundraisers in Maryland for the American Cancer society. Originally, this was for local bartenders and waitresses that couldn’t afford t o join the more expensive tournaments, like the White Marlin Classic.

The fees to join the tournament are a 3rd of the cost to regular tournaments and it all goes to a good cause.  In the last three years these ladies have raised over 100,000  and donated all of it to the American Cancer Society.  23 years ago this organization was started by Steve Harmen. Now his brother Shawn, the owner of Bahia Marina in Ocean City, is the new tournament organizer. Shawn tells us last year there were 632 lady anglers and about 136 boats

“This year as you can see we may be a little bigger then that. Its been a tremendous turnout the community supports it incredibly well – its a great tournament the tagline for us is – boy can those girls fish,” said Shawn.

47 ABC asked the ladies what they were hoping to catch out there this year.

“A great time because we’re already winners – we’re doing it,” they said. ” The best part about being here is we are all winners. Anyone that comes out for a cause like this is a winner.”

The tournament ends on Sunday and 47 ABC will follow up to find out how much money these ladies raised for the American Cancer society this year.