GADSDEN, Ala. – Steve Kennedy of Hoover, Ala., topped 90 competitors on Neely Henry Lake this weekend with five bass weighing 13 pounds, 2 ounces to win $6,347 and 400 points on the boater side of the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League (BFL) Choo Choo Division season finale.
After qualifying for the final round of the two-day Super Tournament in second place with an opening day catch of five bass weighing 14 pounds, 3 ounces, Kennedy out fished runner up Jonathan Newton of Rogersville, Ala., by 1 pounds, 14 ounces to take the win.
Newton qualified for the final round in sixth place with five bass weighing 11 pounds, 9 ounces and finished up with a final round catch weighing 11 pounds, 4 ounces to win $3,173.
Brad Ritter of Lexington, Ala., took third place and collected $1,587 with 10 pounds, 14 ounces. Terry Tucker of Gadsden, Ala., placed fourth and earned $1,375 with 10 pounds, 11 ounces, while Paul Redwine of Crossville, Tenn., placed fifth and earned $1,269 with 9 pounds, 8 ounces.
Jerry McCafferty of Muscle Shoals, Ala., won the boater Big Bass Award and collected $950 with a 4-pound, 13-ounce bass on opening day.
First place in the Co-Angler Division and $3,076 went to Greg Watson of Kimberly, Ala., who topped 88 competitors with a final round catch of five bass weighing 9 pounds, 7 ounces. Second place in the division and $1,538 went to Kevin Edwards of Danville, Ala., with 7 pounds, 8 ounces, while Kerry Waggoner of Childersburg, Ala., took third place and $769 with 7 pounds, 7 ounces.
Edwards won the co-angler Big Bass Award of $450 with a 3-pound, 15-ounce bass that he caught on opening day.
Boater Terry Watson of Kimberly, Ala., won $500 as the highest finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program. He finished in 12th place with two bass weighing 3 pounds, 11 ounces.
Newton landed the Divisional Points Championship and $1,000 with 1,098 points won during five regular season tournaments. Watson landed the Co-Angler Points Championship and $500 with 1,100 points.
The top 30 boaters and top 30 co-anglers in the Choo Choo Division will advance to regional competition Oct. 9-13 on Weiss Lake near Cedar Bluff, Ala., where they will go up against top competitors from the Carolina, Ozark and Illini divisions for a shot at qualifying for the BFL All-American, which features an estimated purse of $345,000 and ranks as one of the most lucrative post-season tournaments in competitive angling. The top two boaters and co-anglers may also qualify for the Ranger M1 tournament in Mobile, Ala., Feb. 27-March 2, 2002, where they can win up to $1 million in the world’s richest freshwater tournament.
Awards for the 2001 BFL season could reach $5.7 million based on full fields at each tournament.
Sponsors of the 2001 Wal-Mart BFL are ALPO Pet Foods, BC Powder, BFGoodrich Tires, Black & Decker, Chevy Trucks, CITGO, Coleman, Conseco, Energizer, EverStart Batteries, Frito-Lay, FujiFilm, Garmin, Kellogg’s, Land O’Lakes, Mercury Marine, Minn Kota, Pepsi, Poulan, Pure Fishing, Ranger Boats, Snickers Cruncher Bar, Stren, Shop-Vac, Timex, US Bank, Visa, Weed Eater, Wrangler and Yamaha Outboards. ACDelco is an associate sponsor of the Wal-Mart BFL.