PROSPERITY, S.C. (Oct. 27, 2008) - Boater David Lowery of Milledgeville, Ga., earned a fully rigged Ranger 198VX and a new Chevy truck Saturday as the winner of the Bass Fishing League Regional Championship on Lake Murray in Prosperity, S.C. The top 40 boaters and the top 40 co-anglers from the Bama, Bulldog, Gator and Volunteer divisions competed in the three-day bass fishing tournament.
Lowery's winning three-day catch of 14 bass weighed 28 pounds, 14 ounces. In addition to the new truck and boat, Lowery earned a ticket to the 2009 $1 million Bass Fishing League All-American. The winning boater and co-angler at the All-American will also advance to the $2 million 2009 Forrest Wood Cup.
Lowery said he caught the majority of his keepers flipping wood with a ¼-ounce jig.
The top six boaters and the top six co-anglers at the regional championship earned a spot to compete in the All-American. Rounding out the top six boaters were David Warfield of Dayton, Tenn. (14 bass, 28-00, $4,000); James Wiley of Monroe, Ga. (11 bass, 23-11, $2,000); J.R. Henard of Rogersville, Tenn. (13 bass, 23-09, $1,600); Larry Neal of Piney Flats, Tenn. (nine bass, 22-11, $1,200); and Jay Kendrick of Grant, Ala. (15 bass, 22-05, $1,000).
Phillip Cone of Loganville, Ga., earned a new Ranger boat as the co-angler winner, thanks to a three-day total of 11 bass weighing 19 pounds, 8 ounces.
Rounding out the top six co-anglers were Steve Holt of Colquitt, Ga. (10 bass, 15-08, $2,000); Dickson Adams of Woodstock, Ga. (12 bass, 15-06, $1,000); Jason Boyett of Atlanta, Ga. (13 bass, 15-02, $800); Joel Hobgood of Sharpsburg, Ga. (11 bass, 14-15, $600); and Alan Piacentine of Dallas, Ga. (10 bass, 14-02, $500).