EUFAULA, Ala. (Oct. 13, 2003) - David Wright of Lexington, N.C., bested 113 Boater Division competitors this weekend at the Bass Fishing League Regional tournament on Lake Eufaula to win a new Chevy truck and an Evinrude- or Yamaha-powered Ranger 519VS Comanche bass boat. The postseason victory also earned him a slot in the 2004 Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League All-American, where he will compete for a top boater award of $100,000 cash.
Wright advanced to the regional by finishing the regular season ranked second in BFL Savannah River Division points standings. The top 30 boaters and co-anglers in the Savannah River Division competed against the top 30 Louisiana, Mississippi and Music City division anglers for one of six slots in next year's All-American. They will join the top six from five other regionals plus the Wild Card for an All-American field of 42 boaters and 42 co-anglers.
Wright caught five bass Thursday weighing 13 pounds, 10 ounces to finish fifth, and he followed that up Friday with 17 pounds, 1 ounce to lead day two's competition with a two-day total of 30 pounds, 11 ounces. The top six finishers after day two competed a third day for position and prize money based on their total three-day weight, and Wright led the field with a three-day total of 43 pounds, 14 ounces. All six automatically earned a berth to the All-American.
Rounding out the top six boaters are David Gnewikow of Antioch, Tenn. (36 pounds, 12 ounces, $5,000); Todd Pearson of Anderson, S.C. (34 pounds, 11 ounces, $2,500); Paul Rossi of Gonzales, La. (30 pounds, 14 ounces, $2,000); Shan Schoenrock of Carrollton, Ala. (30 pounds, 4 ounces, $1,500); and Adam Wagner of Cookeville, Tenn. (27 pounds, 7 ounces, $1,000).
Wright also earned a $1,000 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program. He earned another $1,000 from Garmin for using a fixed-mount Garmin Fishfinder or combination GPS/sounder during the event.
Brent Sain of Manchester, Tenn., won an Evinrude- or Yamaha-powered Ranger boat as the Co-angler Division winner thanks to his three-day total of 34 pounds, 11 ounces. He caught his bass on a lavender shad DD22 in the main lake. Sain caught five bass weighing 16 pounds, 15 ounces on day one to finish first, and he also finished first after day two thanks to another 5 pounds, 3 ounces that set his two-day total at 22 pounds, 2 ounces. Sain will compete for a top co-angler award of $50,000 at the 2004 All-American.
Rounding out the top six co-anglers are Bo Price of Seneca, S.C. (23 pounds, 3 ounces, $2,500); Paul Flatt of Cookeville, Tenn. (19 pounds, 7 ounces, $1,250); Scott Phillips of Laurel, Miss. (15 pounds, 8 ounces, $1,000); Bobby Whitson of Brentwood, Tenn. (13 pounds, 4 ounces, $750); and Butch Zadlo of Boone, N.C. (12 pounds, $500).