SENECA, S.C. (May 23, 2005) - Boater Greg Rikard of Leesville earned $3,481 Saturday as winner of the Bass Fishing League South Carolina Division bass fishing tournament on Hartwell Lake. The tournament was the fourth of five regular-season South Carolina Division events, which earned Rikard 200 points in the Boater Division. Rikard also earned the $1,000 Garmin Grand award, $1,000 Ranger Cut award and $500 Powered by Yamaha award for a grand total of $5,081.
Rikard's winning catch of five bass weighed 15 pounds, 14 ounces. He used a topwater up the river to catch his keepers in the overcast conditions.
Finishing second was Nelson Walker of Manning, with five bass weighing 13 pounds, 13 ounces that earned him $1,741. Keith Kirby of Gaffney claimed $1,140 as the third-place finisher thanks to five bass weighing 13 pounds, 10 ounces. There was a three-way tie for fourth place. Brad Fowler of Pendleton, Wayne Jeffcoat of Chapin and Larry Moss of Prosperity all caught five bass weighing 12 pounds, 13 ounces to earn $738.
Keith Ashley of Greenwood took Boater Division big-bass award honors, earning $520 for a 4-pound, 10-ounce bass. He caught his big bass on a topwater lure.
Robert Lynn of Savannah, Ga., earned $1,741 as the co-angler winner, thanks to five bass weighing 12 pounds, 4 ounces that he caught on a Zoom Fluke.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Mike Billie of Cowpens (four bass, 11 pounds, 3 ounces, $870); Jerald Givens of Canvas, W.V. (four bass, 10 pounds, 6 ounces, $568); Kyle Johnson of Georgetown (five bass, 9 pounds, 12 ounces, $443); and Donnie Rhodes of Laurens (five bass, 9 pounds, 11 ounces, $364).
Wyman Weeks of Liberty, Bryan Cothran of Belton and Givens earned $86.67 each as the co-angler big-bass award winners. All three caught a 4-pound, 9-ounce bass.
The South Carolina Division will wrap up its regular season Sept. 24-25 with a two-day Super Tournament on Lake Wylie near York.