HENDERSON, N.C. (June 30, 2003) - Jeff Jennings of Biscoe claimed $5,011 as the winner of the Bass Fishing League Piedmont Division's third regular-season bass fishing tournament, held on Kerr Lake near Henderson. Jennings led the field of 199 boaters with a five-bass catch weighing 16 pounds, 12 ounces. Jennings caught his bass Saturday flipping a jig.
In second place was Sam Cole of Lexington with a five-bass catch weighing 16 pounds, 7 ounces that earned him $2,506. Tied for third place were Scooter Lilley of Williamston and Walter Hash of Dublin, Va., with a five-bass catch weighing 14 pounds, 3 ounces. Each received $1,503 for his catch. In fifth place was Vernon Wilson of Boydton, Va., with a five-bass catch weighing 13 pounds, 12 ounces that earned him $1,102.
Cole also claimed a $500 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.
Eric Rumley of Princeton, W.Va., topped 196 Co-angler Division competitors with a five-bass catch weighing 16 pounds that he caught flipping a jig. Rumley earned $2,468 for the win.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Fred Blakley of Greensboro (five bass, 13 pounds, 13 ounces, $1,234); Randy Buchanan of Bullock (five bass, 12 pounds, 13 ounces, $839); Terry Wien of Lexington (five bass, 12 pounds, 2 ounces, $642); and Steven Farr of Holly Springs (five bass, 12 pounds, 1 ounce, $543).
Rodney Bell of Salisbury earned boater big-bass honors and $995 with a 5-pound, 14-ounce bass, and Blakley earned co-angler big-bass honors and $490 in his division with a 6-pound, 6-ounce bass.