APPLING, Ga. (June 26, 2006) - Boater Keith Williamson of Lincolnton, Ga., earned $4,235 Saturday as winner of the Bass Fishing League Savannah River Division bass fishing tournament on Clarks Hill Lake. The tournament was the fourth of five regular-season Savannah River Division events and earned Williamson 200 points in the Boater Division.
Williamson's winning catch of five bass weighed 14 pounds, 11 ounces. He was throwing a combination of Zoom Flukes and topwater baits to catch his bass. Williamson also took home an additional $1,000 for the Bombardier Bonus award.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Richard Dickenson of Lincolnton, Ga. (five bass, 14 pounds, 7 ounces, $2,118); Marty Robinson of Landrum, S.C. (five bass, 13 pounds, 10 ounces, $1,413); Tony Postell of Appling, Ga., (five bass, 13 pounds, 8 ounces, $988); and Rick Steckelberg of Gainesville, Ga. (five bass, 13 pounds, 2 ounces, $847).
Robinson also took home an additional $500 for being the highest placing Ranger Cup participant.
Ronnie Cutshall of Piedmont, S.C., won the Co-angler Division to earn $2,118 thanks to five bass weighing 11 pounds, 14 ounces that he caught on a rainbow Super Fluke.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Walter Cook of Toccoa, Ga. (five bass, 11 pounds, 6 ounces, $1,059); Barker Plake of Hodges, S.C. (five bass, 9 pounds, 15 ounces, $706); Chris Nunziato of Elberton, Ga. (four bass, 9 pounds, 5 ounces, $494); and John Hyatt of Leicester, N.C. (five bass, 9 pounds, 3 ounces, $424).
Nunziato earned an additional $295 as the co-angler big-bass award winner with a 6-pound, 9-ounce bass he caught on Zoom Lizard.
The Savannah River Division will wrap up its regular season Sept. 16-17 with a two-day Super Tournament, the division's fifth and final event, on Lake Keowee near Seneca, S.C.
Following the regular season, the Savannah River Division boater with the most points who advances farthest in the Wal-Mart BFL All-American will earn $10,000 as the Yamaha "Be the Best" points champion. The co-angler points champion who advances farthest will earn $5,000 as the Yamaha "Be the Best" points champion in the Co-angler Division.
Every angler who receives weight credit in a tournament earns points, with 200 points going to the winner, 199 for second, 198 for third, and so on except for Super Tournaments, which award 300 points to the winner, 299 for second, 298 for third, and so on. The top 40 Savannah River Division boaters and co-anglers based on year-end points standings will advance to the Kerr Lake Regional near Henderson, N.C., Oct. 12-14, where they will compete against Gator, Shenandoah and South Carolina anglers for one of six slots in the 2007 All-American.