Cunningham wins Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League tournament on Lake Monroe

Tim Cunningham of Nashville, Ind., won first place in the Pro Division at the June 23 Wal-Mart BFL tour event on Monroe Lake. Cunningham, who recorded a catch of 11 pounds, 10 ounces, won $5,412 for his efforts. Angler: Tim Cunningham.

June 23, 2001 • MLF • Archives

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Tim Cunningham of Nashville, Ind., outpaced 172 competitors Saturday with five bass weighing 11 pounds, 10 ounces to win $5,412 and 200 points on the boater side of the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League (BFL) Hoosier Division tournament on Lake Monroe.

Cunningham edged out Stacey Edwards of Milton, Ky., by 7 ounces in the one-day event that set out from Cutright Marina. Edwards finished with a four-bass catch weighing 11 pounds, 3 ounces to win $2,706. Cunningham caught his limit on a buzzbait in Salt Creek.

David Wade of Greenwood, Ind., took third place and collected $1,353 with three bass weighing 9 pounds, 7 ounces. David Willsey of Greenwood placed fourth and earned $1,173 with three bass weighing 9 pounds, 1 ounce, while Brian Driscoll of Louisville, Ky., placed fifth and earned $1,082 with three bass weighing 8 pounds, 9 ounces. Driscoll also received a $500 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.

Gary Vanpelt of Bloomington, Ind., won the boater Big Bass Award and collected $860 with a 6-pound, 10-ounce bass that he caught on a red Berkley Power Worm.

First place in the Co-Angler Division and $2,706 went to Rod Yoder of West Lafayette, Ind., who topped 172 competitors with two bass weighing 8 pounds, 13 ounces. Second place in the division and $1,353 went to Bruce McClamroch of Crawfordsville, Ind., with three bass weighing 8 pounds while Roy Brand of Nineveh, Ind., took third place and $676 with one bass weighing 5 pounds, 3 ounces.

Brand and Yoder each caught a 5-pound, 3-ounce bass to tie for the co-angler Big Bass Award. Each man received $215.

Overall, 213 bass were caught during the tournament, including one five-bass limit.

The Wal-Mart BFL will visit Tanners Creek July 28 for the fourth of five events in the Hoosier Division. The boater with the most points after the division’s season finale, a two-day Super Tournament Sept. 22-23 at Rocky Point, will be declared the Divisional Points Champion and awarded $1,000. The co-angler with the most points will receive $500.

The top 30 boaters and top 30 co-anglers in the Hoosier Division will advance to regional competition Oct. 16-20 on the Ohio River near Paducah, Ky., where they will go up against top competitors from the LBL, Plains and Great Lakes 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.