Brunson wins 2002 Wal-Mart BFL Piedmont Division tournament

Spence Brunson was the Pro Division winner of the Wal-Mart BFL Piedmont Division tournament on June 1. Angler: Spence Brunson.

June 1, 2002 • MLF • Archives

HENDERSON, N.C. – Spence Brunson of Salisbury, N.C., topped 200 Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League competitors Saturday on Kerr Lake with five bass weighing 15 pounds, 6 ounces. The catch earned him $5,000 and 200 points in the Boater Division.

Brunson caught his limit on Carolina rigged Zoom worms and lizards in 16 feet of water. The catch topped second-place boater Tony Martoglio of Harrisonburg, Va., by 9 ounces. Martoglio finished the one-day tournament with a five-bass catch weighing 14 pounds, 13 ounces worth $2,500.

Rounding out the top five boaters were: Larry Inman of Greensboro, N.C., five bass weighing 13 pounds, 12 ounces worth $1,350; Randy Waterman of Keysville, Va., five bass weighing 13 pounds, 12 ounces worth $1,350; and Sam Cole of Lexington, N.C., five bass weighing 13 pounds, 5 ounces worth $1,100.

Inman received a $500 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.

Jeffery Lynn of Hagerstown, Md., earned boater big bass honors and $1,000 with a 6-pound, 1-ounce bass that he caught on a French fry worm off a deep point. He finished in 92nd place overall thanks to the bass.

David Farman of Semora, N.C., claimed first place and $2,500 in the 200-competitor Co-angler Division with five bass weighing 13 pounds, 6 ounces. He surpassed second-place co-angler Mark Robertson of Henderson, N.C., by 4 ounces. Robertson finished with a five-bass catch weighing 13 pounds, 2 ounces worth $1,250.

Rounding out the top five co-anglers were: Bobby Piner of Prince George, Va., five bass weighing 12 pounds, 2 ounces worth $750; Gary Smoak of Newport News, Va., four bass weighing 11 pounds, 14 ounces worth $600; and David Galloway of Raleigh, N.C., five bass weighing 11 pounds, 10 ounces worth $550.

Co-angler Wendell Gaddy of Cameron, N.C., earned big bass honors and $500 in his division with a 5-pound, 11-ounce bass. He finished 10th with three bass weighing 9 pounds, 14 ounces.

Overall, 58 five-bass limits were caught during the tournament.

The Wal-Mart BFL will visit Neuse River July 20 for the fourth of five Piedmont Division events. The boater with the most points after the division’s season finale, a two-day Super Tournament Sept. 28-29 on Kerr Lake, will be declared the Yamaha “Be-the-Best” Points Leader and awarded $1,000. The co-angler amassing the most points by the end of the season will receive $500.

The top 30 Piedmont Division boaters and co-anglers 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 Choo Choo divisions for a shot at qualifying for the Wal-Mart BFL All-American. The All-American is one of the most lucrative post-season tournaments in competitive angling.

BFL awards in 2002 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, Coleman, 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, US Bank, Weed Eater and Yamaha Outboards. Associate sponsors are Abu Garcia, Berkley, Eagle Claw, Hover-Lure, Laker, Maxwell House, Plano and Solar Bat.