Funderburgh wins Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League tournament on Lake Palestine

TYLER, Texas – Odis Funderburgh of Tyler, Texas, outpaced 178 competitors Saturday with five bass weighing 13 pounds, 7 ounces to win $5,600 and 200 points on the boater side of the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League (BFL) Cowboy Division tournament on Lake Palestine.

Funderburgh edged out David Matheny of Troup, Texas, by 4 ounces in the one-day event that set out from The Village Marina. Matheny finished with a five-bass catch weighing 13 pounds, 3 ounces to win $2,800. Funderburgh caught his limit using a black buzz bait with a white trailer.

Steve Pebley of Cooper, Texas, took third place and collected $1,400 with five bass weighing 11 pounds, 9 ounces. Archie Hayley of Mount Vernon, Texas, and Bill Hudspeth of Kilgore, Texas, tied for fourth and earned $1,167 each with five bass weighing 11 pounds, 6 ounces.

Randy Jacoby of Cedar Park, Texas, won the boater Big Bass Award and collected $890 with a 5-pound bass that he caught on a watermelon-colored fluke.

First place in the Co-Angler Division and $2,800 went to Scott Hoing of Diana, Texas, who topped 178 competitors with four bass weighing 9 pounds, 11 ounces. Second place in the division and $1,400 went to Clay Henry of Many, La., with four bass weighing 8 pounds, 3 ounces, while David Cortinas of Cedar Hill, Texas, took third place and $700 with three bass weighing 6 pounds, 5 ounces.

Cecil Holden of Orange, Texas, won the co-angler Big Bass Award of $445 with a 3-pound, 10-ounce bass that he caught on a June-bug-colored wacky worm.

Boater Joe Mazzurco of Grapevine, Texas, won $500 as the highest finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program. He finished in 37th place with two bass weighing 5 pounds, 3 ounces.

Overall, 374 bass were caught during the tournament, including nine five-bass limits.

On May 19, the BFL will visit Sam Rayburn Reservoir for the third of five events in the Cowboy Division. The boater with the most points after the division’s season finale, a two-day Super Tournament Sept. 29-30 on Sam Rayburn, will be declared the Divisional Points Champion and awarded $1,000. The co-angler amassing the most points by the end of the season will receive $500.

The top 30 boaters and top 30 co-anglers in the Cowboy Division will advance to regional competition Oct. 16-20 on the Red River near Shreveport, La., where they will go up against top competitors from the Okie, Arkie and Mississippi divisions for a shot at qualifying for the $250,000 All-American.

Awards for the 2001 BFL season could reach $5.7 million based on full fields at each tournament.