SENECA, S.C. (Feb. 17, 2003) - Kip Ashmore of Evans, Ga., topped more than 130 Bass Fishing League competitors Saturday on Keowee Lake with five bass weighing 11 pounds, 9 ounces. The catch earned him $4,238 and 200 points in the Boater Division.
Ashmore caught his limit on a Zoom Super Fluke under cloudy skies. The catch topped second-place boater Steve Hale of Nicholson, Ga., by 10 ounces. Hale finished the one-day tournament with a five-bass catch weighing 10 pounds, 15 ounces worth $2,119.
Shane Lineberger of Lincolnton, N.C., (five bass, 10 pounds, 4 ounces, $1,441) finished third, while Marty Robinson of Greer (five bass, 9 pounds, 11 ounces, $1,017) and Bill Boswell of Elberton, Ga., (five bass, 9 pounds, 11 ounces, $1,017) tied for fourth.
Lineberger earned a $500 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.
Tony Christian of Hull, Ga., earned boater big-bass honors and $805 with a 5-pound, 5-ounce bass that he caught on a Zoom Speed Worm. He finished in 21st place overall with two bass weighing 6 pounds, 14 ounces.
George Parker of Liberty claimed first place and $2,119 in the 130-plus competitor Co-angler Division with five bass weighing 12 pounds, 6 ounces. He surpassed second-place co-angler Jeffery Wood of Townville by 12 ounces thanks to a blade runner and finesse worm. Wood finished with a five-bass catch weighing 11 pounds, 10 ounces worth $1,060.
Charles Hale of Six Mile (five bass, 10 pounds, 4 ounces, $720); Alan Poston of Travelers Rest (five bass, 9 pounds, 9 ounces, $551); and Ken Smith of Weaverville, N.C. (four bass, 9 pounds, $466) rounded out the top five co-anglers.
Co-angler Phil Parten of Carnesville, Ga., earned big-bass honors and $403 in his division with a 4-pound bass. He finished 39th thanks to the one bass.
The Wal-Mart BFL will visit Lake Russell March 15 for the second of five Savannah River Division events. The boater with the most points after the division's season finale, a two-day Super Tournament Sept. 27-28 on Clark Hill Lake, will be declared the Yamaha "Be the Best" Points Leader and awarded $1,000. The co-angler amassing the most points by the end of the season will receive $500.
The top 30 Savannah River Division boaters and co-anglers will advance to regional competition Oct. 7-11 on Lake Eufaula near Eufaula, Ala., where they will go up against top competitors from the Louisiana, Music City and Mississippi divisions for a shot at qualifying for the Wal-Mart BFL All-American - one of the most lucrative postseason tournaments in competitive angling.
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