BFL Super Tournament on Lake Guntersville won by Gray - Major League Fishing

BFL Super Tournament on Lake Guntersville won by Gray

Image for BFL Super Tournament on Lake Guntersville won by Gray
David Gray of Section, Ala., topped 87 Boater Division competitors on Lake Guntersville to earn $7,077 and 300 points for the win at the BFL Choo Choo Division season finale. Angler: David Gray.
September 28, 2002 • MLF • Archives

SCOTTSBORO, Ala. – David Gray of Section, Ala., topped 87 Boater Division competitors on Lake Guntersville this weekend with a five-bass catch weighing 18 pounds, 10 ounces. He earned $7,077 and 300 points for the win at the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League Choo Choo Division season finale.

After qualifying for the final round of the two-day Super Tournament in 18th place with an opening-day catch of three bass weighing 9 pounds, 4 ounces, Gray out-fished runner-up Josh Benford of Phil Campbell, Ala., by 2 pounds, 8 ounces to take the win. Gray caught his limit on day two using a frog.

Benford qualified for the final round in 23rd place with three bass weighing 7 pounds, 13 ounces and finished up with a five-bass catch weighing 16 pounds, 2 ounces to win $3,538.

Terry Tucker of Gadsden, Ala. (five bass, 13 pounds, 12 ounces, $1,917); Andy Morgan of Dayton, Tenn. (five bass, 12 pounds, 13 ounces, $1,622); and Marshall Deakins of Dunlap, Tenn., (five bass, 12 pounds, 10 ounces, $1,327) rounded out the top five boaters.

Deakins earned a $500 bonus as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program. Mark Meyer of Hanceville, Ala., took boater big-bass honors and $1,240 for a 7-pound, 10-ounce bass.

Jerry McCafferty of Muscle Shoals, Ala., topped 87 competitors in the Co-angler Division to take first place and $3,481 during the BFL Choo Choo Division season finale.Jerry McCafferty of Muscle Shoals, Ala., topped 87 competitors in the Co-angler Division to take first place and $3,481 thanks to a final-round catch of four bass weighing 17 pounds. Second place in the division and $1,741 went to Phillip Lovett of Killen, Ala., with a three-bass catch weighing 10 pounds, 13 ounces, followed by A.K. Boatright of Cleveland, Ala., in third place with four bass weighing 10 pounds, 2 ounces worth $943.

Jason Khym of Maryville, Tenn., won the co-angler big-bass award of $610 with a 5-pound, 1-ounce bass.

William Davis of Killen, Ala., is the Choo Choo Division’s Yamaha “Be the Best” points leader, winning $1,000 for the 988 points he earned during five regular-season tournaments. McCafferty is the Yamaha “Be the Best” points leader in the Co-angler Division. He earned $500 for his division-leading 1,064 points.

The top 30 boaters and top 30 co-anglers in the Choo Choo Division will advance to regional competition Oct. 22-26 on Lake Seminole near Bainbridge, Ga., where they will go up against top competitors from the Carolina, Gator and Piedmont divisions for a shot at qualifying for the BFL All-American, one of the most lucrative postseason 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, 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, U.S. Bank, Weed Eater and Yamaha Outboards.