LAKE WYLIE, S.C. (Sept. 22, 2003) - Sean Hastings of Gastonia, N.C., caught eight bass weighing 21 pounds, 15 ounces to win $6,846 at the Bass Fishing League Carolina Division Super Bass Fishing Tournament, on Lake Wylie near Lake Wylie. Hastings bested 118 Boater Division competitors and earned 300 points at the tournament, which was the fifth and final Bulldog Division event of the regular season.
Hastings caught five bass Saturday weighing 16 pounds to finish first on day one and followed that up Sunday with three bass weighing 5 pounds, 15 ounces to earn the win. Hastings caught his bass tournament-winning bass on a jig in the lower end of the lake. He earned $1,000 from Garmin for using a fixed-mount Garmin Fishfinder or combination GPS/sounder.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Mark Carpenter of Lincolnton, N.C. (10 bass, 21 pounds, 1 ounce); Scott Hamrick of Denver, N.C. (nine bass, 20 pounds, 12 ounces); Britt Myers of Mount Holly, N.C. (10 bass, 20 pounds, 10 ounces); and Larry Pearson of Cramerton, N.C. (10 bass, 20 pounds, 9 ounces).
Pearson also claimed a $500 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.
Darrell W. Shull of West Columbia claimed $1,180 as the Boater Division big-bass award winner with a 6-pound, 1-ounce bass.
Michael Carson of Gastonia, N.C., led 118 Co-angler Division competitors on day two to claim $3,423 as the Super Tournament co-angler winner. He caught one bass Saturday weighing 3 pounds, 13 ounces to finish first and followed that up Sunday with four bass weighing 11 pounds, 1 ounce to earn the win. He caught his tournament-winning bass on a prop bait.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Carl Williams Sr. of Gastonia, N.C. (five bass, 11 pounds, 5 ounces); Marty Sweeting of Harrisburg, N.C. (four bass, 10 pounds, 8 ounces); Ricky Byrd of Independence, Va. (three bass, 9 pounds, 13 ounces); and Joe Manley of Wilmington, N.C. (five bass, 9 pounds, 5 ounces).
Byrd also took co-angler big-bass honors and $590 with a 4-pound, 13-ounce bass.
David Williams of Maiden, N.C., is the Carolina Division's Yamaha "Be the Best" points leader, winning $1,000 for the 1030 points he earned during five regular-season tournaments. Harvey Harris of Lexington, N.C., is the Yamaha "Be the Best" points leader in the Co-angler Division. He earned $500 for his division-leading 986 points.