MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. (March 14, 2005) - Boater Alan Brightwell of Moultrie earned $4,446 Saturday as winner of the Bass Fishing League Bulldog Division bass fishing tournament on Lake Sinclair. The tournament was the second of five regular-season Bulldog Division events and featured 147 boaters vying for the win, which earned Brightwell 200 points in the Boater Division.
Brightwell's winning catch of five bass weighed 20 pounds, 15 ounces. Brightwell fished a cove between some docks with a crankbait to catch his bass.
Finishing second was Benny Lanning of Covington with five bass weighing 18 pounds, 4 ounces that earned him $2,223. Kenny Holloway and Clay Batson, both of Eatonton, tied for third and claimed $1,293 each. Both anglers caught five bass weighing 15 pounds, 13 ounces. Finishing fifth and earning $930 was Jerry McClure of Covington with five bass weighing 15 pounds, 5 ounces.
Todd Tucker of Moultrie took Boater Division big-bass award honors, earning $735 for a 6-pound, 12-ounce bass. He caught his big bass on a crankbait.
Scott Hayes of Newnan won $750 as winner of the Ranger Cup award and the Powered by Yamaha award.
Stephen Twelkemeier of Marietta won $2,193 as the co-angler winner, thanks to four bass weighing 11 pounds, 4 ounces that he caught on a spinnerbait. Twelkemeier also earned $363 as the co-angler division big-bass award winner with a 7-pound, 6-ounce bass.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are George Goodman, Jr. of Monticello (two bass, 10 pounds, 9 ounces, $1,096); Clifford Avery of Bonaire (five bass, 10 pounds, 7 ounces, $715) and Darryl Johnson of Flowery Branch (four bass, 10 pounds, 2 ounces, $508). Marty Fuller of Hillsboro tied for fourth place with Johnson, (five bass, 10 pounds, 2 ounces, $508).
The Bulldog Division's next event will be held April 16 on Lake Oconee near Madison, followed by an event on Lake Eufaula near Eufaula, Ala., May 7. The Bulldog Division will wrap up its regular season Sept. 10-11 with a two-day Super Tournament on Clarks Hill Lake near Augusta.