GADSDEN, Ala. – Steve Kennedy of Auburn, Ala., out-fished 123 competitors this weekend to earn $8,618 and 100 CITGO Challenge Points on the boater side of the Red Man Tournament Trail’s Bama Division season finale – a two-day Super Tournament on Lake Neely Henry.
Kennedy caught five bass weighing 10 pounds, 4 ounces on opening day to qualify for the second and final day of competition. On day two, he caught five more bass weighing 12-9 to top Mark Meyer of Hanceville, Ala., who finished with a day-two catch of 12-0 worth $4,309. Kennedy caught his limits using a white buzzbait around laydowns in the back of creeks.
Coby Carden of Shelby, Ala., took third place and collected $2,154 with a day-two catch of five bass weighing 10-13. Terry Tucker of Gadsden, Ala., placed fourth and earned $1,868 with a day-two catch of five bass weighing 10-5, while Charles Steele of Attalla, Ala., placed fifth and earned $1,724 with a day-two catch of five bass weighing 9-3.
Jay Kendrick of Kingston, Ga., won the Abu Garcia Big Bass Award in the Boater Division and collected $1,230 with a 5-pound, 8-ounce bass that he caught on a crankbait while fishing points and drop-offs.
Jamie Horton of Centerville, Ala., was declared the Divisional Points Champion and awarded $1,000 after amassing 234 points through five regular season events.
First place in the Co-Angler Division and $4,033 went to Vince Stewart of Cartersville, Ga., who topped 109 competitors with a day-two catch of five bass weighing 7 pounds, 15 ounces. Stewart caught five bass weighing 8-12 on opening day to qualify for the final round.
Second place in the Co-Angler Division and $2,017 went to Frank Patrick of Rome, Ga., with a day-two catch of four bass weighing 7-2, while Doug Gaines of Cullman, Ala., took third place and $1,008 with a day-two catch of four bass weighing 7-1.
Vince Stewart of Cartersville, Ga., won the co-angler Abu Garcia Big Bass Award of $545 with a 5-pound, 15-ounce bass that he caught while flipping a jig around points.
Robert Edwards of Selma, Ala., amassed more points than any other co-angler during five regular season events to win the Co-Angler Divisional Points title and $500. He earned 176 points this season.
The trail’s championship event, the Red Man All-American, will award $100,000 to the winning boater and $50,000 to the winning co-angler. Overall, more than $5.7 million could be awarded in 2000 based on full fields in each of the series’ 119 events nationwide.
Red Man became the trail’s title sponsor in 1983. Wal-Mart recently announced that it has assumed title sponsorship of the tournament series for 2001 and will rename it the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League.