For additional information, please contact:
Dave Washburn, Communications Director, (270) 252-1607
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Edwards wins Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League Hoosier Division tournament
Bloomington, Ind. (July 1, 2002) — T.J. Edwards of Waldron, Ind., topped 176
Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League competitors Saturday on Lake Monroe with two
bass weighing 10 pounds, 8 ounces. The catch earned him $4,546 and 200
points in the Boater Division.
Edwards caught his bass flipping a worm to bushes. The catch topped
second-place boater Gary Byard of Versailles, Ind., by 13 ounces. Byard
finished the one-day tournament with a four-bass catch weighing 9 pounds, 11
ounces worth $2,273.
Todd Hensley of New Albany, Ind. (three bass, 9 pounds, 1 ounce, $1,364);
David Willsey of Greenwood, Ind. (four bass, 8 pounds, 11 ounces, $1,091);
and Gary McGhee of Metamora, Ind., (two bass, 8 pounds, 4 ounces, $1,000)
rounded out the top five boaters.
McGhee earned boater big bass honors and $880 with a 6-pound, 3-ounce bass
that he caught using a Cotton Cordell Rattlin’ Spot. Hensley received a $500
bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger
Cup incentive program.
Rich Fye of Galveston, Ind., claimed first place and $2,273 in the
176-competitor Co-angler Division with four bass weighing 9 pounds, 5
ounces. He surpassed second-place co-angler Mark Barnard of Laurel, Ind., by
10 ounces. Barnard finished with a two-bass catch weighing 8 pounds, 11
ounces worth $1,136.
Andy Heinkelein of Cincinnati (three bass, 7 pounds, 8 ounces, $682); David
Crone of Georgetown, Ind. (three bass, 6 pounds, 12 ounces, $545); and Ray
Olsen of Memphis, Ind., (three bass, 6 pounds, 4 ounces, $500) rounded out
the top five co-anglers.
Barnard earned big bass honors and $440 in his division with a 5-pound,
7-ounce bass.
The Wal-Mart BFL will visit the Ohio River July 27 for the fourth of five
Hoosier Division events. The boater with the most points after the division’
s season finale, a two-day Super Tournament Sept. 7-8 on the Ohio River,
will be declared the Yamaha “Be the Best” Points Leader and awarded $1,000.
The co-angler amassing the most points by the end of the season will receive
$500.
The top 30 Hoosier Division boaters and co-anglers will advance to regional
competition presented by Yamaha Oct. 15-19 on Kentucky Lake near
Gilbertsville, Ky., where they will go up against top competitors from the
Great Lakes, Illini and Michigan divisions for a shot at qualifying for the
Wal-Mart BFL All-American — one of the most lucrative post-season
tournaments in competitive angling.
2002 BFL awards could reach $7 million based on full fields.
Sponsors of the 2002 Wal-Mart BFL are Wal-Mart, ALPO Pet Foods, BC Powder,
BFGoodrich Tires, Castrol, Chevy Trucks, Coleman, Conseco, Energizer,
EverStart Batteries, Evinrude, Faded Glory, Frito-Lay, FujiFilm, Garmin,
Kellogg’s, Land O’Lakes, Minn Kota, Newell Rubbermaid, Pepsi, Poulan, Ranger
Boats, Shop-Vac, Snickers, Stanley Works, Stren, US Bank, Weed Eater and
Yamaha Outboards. Associate sponsors are Abu Garcia, Berkley, Eagle Claw,
Hover-Lure, Laker, Maxwell House, Plano and Solar Bat.
For complete results, visit http://www.flwoutdoors.com