CLEMSON, S.C. (April 30, 2007) - Boater Brian Latimer of Belton, S.C., won the Bass Fishing League Savannah River Division bass fishing tournament on Lake Hartwell Saturday with a five-bass catch weighing 20 pounds, 9 ounces. The victory earned Latimer $4,197 plus a $740 Ranger bonus and placed him one step closer to qualifying for the Lake Seminole Regional Championship in Bainbridge, Ga., Oct. 25-27, where he could ultimately win a new 519VX Ranger boat and a Chevy truck.
Latimer won the tournament by sight fishing on the south end of the lake.
Rounding out the top five boaters are David Williams of Marshall, N.C., (five bass, 19-11, $2,469); Greg Willimon of Pickens, S.C., (five bass, 18-10, $1,646); James Edwards of Greenville, S.C., (five bass, 18-7, $1,152) and Keith Hutto of Augusta, Ga., (five bass, 17-15, $988).
Brandon Cobb of Greenwood, S.C., and Doni Carnes of Comer, Ga., split the Boater Division Big Bass award, each earning $372.50 for a pair of 5-pound, 8-ounce bass.
Vince Smith of Walhalla, S.C., earned $2,469 as the co-angler winner Saturday thanks to five bass weighing 17 pounds, 3 ounces that he caught while focusing on schooling fish in the lower lake near the dam.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Bobby Wade of Gaffney, S.C., (five bass, 15-12, $1,235); James Hinson of Winterville, Ga., (five bass, 13-6, $823); Charles Harbin of Anderson, S.C., (five bass, 13-4, $576) and John Garrison of Aiken, S.C., (five bass, 11-14, $494).
Smith earned $372 as the co-angler Big Bass winner after catching a 5-pound, 13-ounce bass.
The Savannah River Division's next event will be June 16 on Lake Russell in Elberton, Ga. The final event of the regular season will be a two-day Super Tournament held Sept. 29-30 on Clarks Hill in Thompson, Ga.