SENECA, S.C. (May 9, 2005) - Boater Jeff Ensley of Waynesville, N.C., earned $4,226 Saturday as winner of the Bass Fishing League Savannah River Division bass fishing tournament on Lake Hartwell. The tournament was the third of five regular-season Savannah River Division events and featured 137 boaters vying for the win, which earned Ensley 200 points in the Boater Division.
Ensley's winning catch of five bass weighed 20 pounds, 3 ounces. He fished the Seneca River with a green Senko to catch his bass. Ensley earned an additional $2,000 as winner of the Bombardier and Garmin Grand contingency awards.
Finishing second was Bobby Stanfill of Greenwood with five bass weighing 18 pounds, 13 ounces that earned him $2,113. Danny Whaley of Due West claimed $1,382 as the third-place finisher thanks to five bass weighing 17 pounds, 9 ounces. In fourth was Chris Lupo of Greenville with five bass weighing 16 pounds, 11 ounces worth $1,076, and finishing fifth and earning $884 was Norm Attaway of North Augusta with five bass weighing 14 pounds, 15 ounces.
Whaley earned an additional $500 as winner of the Ranger Cup award. Joseph Spencer of Greer took Boater Division big-bass award honors, earning $685 for an 8-pound bass. He caught his big bass on a topwater lure.
Benny Rigney of Simpsonville earned $2,072 as the co-angler winner, thanks to five bass weighing 21 pounds, 4 ounces that he caught on a spinnerbait. Rigney earned an additional $333 as winner of the co-angler big-bass award, thanks to a 6-pound, 7-ounce bass.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Bobby Thornton of Greer (five bass, 14 pounds, 1 ounce, $1,036); Billy Atkinson of Lavonia, Ga. (five bass, 12 pounds, 4 ounces, $677); Glenn Kimbrell of Westminster (five bass, 11 pounds, 11 ounces, $527); and John Bolton of Central (five bass, 11 pounds, 6 ounces, $433).
The Savannah River Division's next event will be held June 4 on Lake Keowee near Seneca. The Savannah River Division will wrap up its regular season Oct. 1-2 with a two-day Super Tournament on Clarks Hill Lake near Augusta, Ga.