GALLATIN, Tenn. (Oct. 20, 2003) - Darryl Stewart of Slocomb, Ala., bested 118 Boater Division competitors this weekend at the Bass Fishing League Regional tournament on Old Hickory Lake to win a new Chevy truck and an Evinrude- or Yamaha-powered Ranger 519VS Comanche bass boat. The postseason victory also earned him a slot in the 2004 Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League All-American, where he will compete for a top boater award of $100,000 cash.
Stewart advanced to the regional by finishing the regular season ranked 30th in BFL Bulldog Division points standings. The top 30 boaters and co-anglers in the Bulldog Division competed against the top 30 Carolina, Hoosier and Illini division anglers for one of six slots in next year's All-American. They will join the top six from five other regionals plus the Chevy Trucks Wild Card for an All-American field of 42 boaters and 42 co-anglers.
Stewart caught two bass Thursday weighing 4 pounds, 14 ounces to finish 29th, and he followed that up Friday with 11 pounds, 3 ounces to sit in the No. 5 spot after day two's competition with a two-day total of 16 pounds, 1 ounce. The top six finishers after day two competed a third day for position and prize money based on their total three-day weight, and Stewart led the field with a three-day total of 27 pounds, 9 ounces. All six automatically earned a berth to the All-American.
Rounding out the top six boaters are Larry Pearson of Cramerton, N.C. (27 pounds, 2 ounces, $5,000); David Williams of Maiden, N.C. (26 pounds, 6 ounces, $2,500); Kevin Chandler of New London, N.C. (22 pounds, 12 ounces, $2,000); Mark Jordan of Kevil, Ky. (20 pounds, 9 ounces, $1,500); and Billy Thompson of Albany, Ga. (18 pounds, 13 ounces, $1,000).
Stewart also earned a $1,000 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.
Ray Arning Jr. of Walnut Hill, Ill., won an Evinrude- or Yamaha-powered Ranger boat as the Co-angler Division winner thanks to his three-day total of 17 pounds, 5 ounces. Arning caught two bass weighing 6 pounds, 8 ounces on day one to finish first, and he finished third after day two thanks to another 4 pounds, 2 ounces that set his two-day total at 10 pounds, 10 ounces. Arning will compete for a top co-angler award of $50,000 at the 2004 All-American.
Rounding out the top six co-anglers are Mark Shirai of Pendleton, Ind. (15 pounds, 6 ounces, $2,500); Ray Olsen of Memphis, Ind. (13 pounds, 2 ounces, $1,250); Aaron McManaway of Altamont, Ill. (11 pounds, 3 ounces, $1,000); Jeremy Gray of Indianapolis (8 pounds, 14 ounces, $750); and Michael Sanders of Windsor, Ill. (7 pounds, 7 ounces, $500).