SAM RAYBURN, Texas (March 7, 2005) - Boater Glenn Freeman of Converse, La., earned $4,507 Saturday as winner of the Bass Fishing League Cowboy Division bass fishing tournament on Sam Rayburn Lake. The tournament was the first of five regular-season Cowboy Division events and featured 149 boaters vying for the win, which earned Freeman 200 points in the Boater Division. Freeman's winning catch of five bass weighed 19 pounds, 10 ounces. Freeman fished a 1/2-ounce perch color spinnerbait in two feet of water near the 147 Bridge area to catch his limit.
Finishing second was Dean Morgan of Port Arthur with five bass weighing 17 pounds, 5 ounces that earned him $2,253. Morgan won an additional $500 as the Ranger Cup award winner. Keith Stout of Ragley, La., claimed $1,477 as the third-place finisher thanks to five bass weighing 17 pounds, 2 ounces. In fourth was Tony Marino of Beaumont with five bass weighing 16 pounds, 6 ounces worth $1,147, and finishing fifth and earning $942 was Jeff Wooldridge of Lafayette, La., with five bass weighing 16 pounds.
In addition, Marino took Boater Division big-bass award honors, earning $745 for an 8-pound, 4-ounce bass. He caught his big bass on a Senko. Ken Denney of Willis bested 147 Co-angler Division competitors to earn $2,223 as the co-angler winner, thanks to five bass weighing 18 pounds, 5 ounces that he caught on a spinnerbait. Denney won an additional $368 as the Co-angler Division big-bass award winner with a 6-pound, 13-ounce bass.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Keith Lantrip of Katy (five bass, 14 pounds, 14 ounces, $1,112); Bill Mohon of Houston (five bass, 13 pounds, 3 ounces, $726); Chad Turely of League City (four bass, 12 pounds, 12ounces, $566); and John Moon of Burton, Mich. (five bass, 11 pounds, 11 ounces, $465).
The Cowboy Division's next event will be held April 9 on Toledo Bend Lake near Hemphill, followed by an event on Richland Chambers Lake near Corsicana May 7. The fourth qualifying event will be held June 18 on Toledo Bend Lake near Shelbyville. The Cowboy Division will wrap up its regular season Sept. 24-25 with a two-day Super Tournament on Sam Rayburn Lake near Sam Rayburn.