BRANSON WEST, Mo. (April 3, 2006) - Boater Josh Wray of Harrison, Ark., earned $5,782 Saturday as winner of the Bass Fishing League Ozark Division bass fishing tournament on Table Rock Lake. The tournament was the first of five regular-season Ozark Division events and featured 190 boaters vying for the win, which earned Wray 200 points in the Boater Division.
Wray's winning catch of five bass weighed 23 pounds, 2 ounces.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Jay Beffa of Festus, Mo. (five bass, 17 pounds, 5 ounces, $2,891); Mark Taylor of Mansfield, Mo. (four bass, 16 pounds, 7 ounces, $1,925); Tim Fleetwood of Forsyth, Mo. (five bass, 16 pounds, 4 ounces, $1,349); and Jerry Sniderof Reeds Spring, Mo. (five bass, 15 pounds, 13 ounces, $1,156).
Fleetwood also earned an additional $500for winning the Ranger Cup contingency award for being the highest placing Ranger Cup participant. Wray also took Boater Division big-bass award honors, earning an additional $950 for an 8-pound bass.
Chris Bunk of Columbia, Mo., won the Co-angler Division to earn $2,775, thanks to four bass weighing 10 pounds, 14 ounces.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Josh Busby of Springfield, Mo. (four bass, 10 pounds, 3 ounces, $1,388); Jason Koirtyohann of Marthasville, Mo., (three bass, 10 pounds, 1 ounce, $924); Eric Brantley of Springfield, Mo. (three bass, 8 pounds, 9 ounces, $648) and Scott Ventimglia of Kansas City, Mo. (three bass, 8 pounds, 3 ounces, $555).
Jason Sandidge of Centerton, Ark., earned $445 as the co-angler big-bass award winner.
The Ozark Division's next event will be held May 20 on Grand Lake near Grove, Okla., followed by an event on Lake Truman near Clinton, Mo., July 22. The Ozark Division will wrap up its regular season Sept. 16-17 with a two-day Super Tournament on Lake of the Ozarks near Osage Beach, Mo.