Turner wins Wal-Mart BFL Bama Division tournament - Major League Fishing

Turner wins Wal-Mart BFL Bama Division tournament

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Nicholas Turner was the Pro Division winner of the Wal-Mart BFL Bama Division tournament on June 1. Angler: Nick Turner.
June 1, 2002 • MLF • Archives

DEMOPOLIS, Ala. – Nicholas Turner from Jones, Ala., topped 104 Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League competitors Saturday on Lake Demopolis with five bass weighing 11 pounds, 14 ounces. The catch earned him $3,179 and 200 points in the Boater Division.

Turner caught his limit on a buzzbait near lay downs in creeks. The catch topped second-place boater Billy Sartain of Northport, Ala., by 7 ounces. Sartain finished the one-day tournament with a five-bass catch weighing 11 pounds, 7 ounces worth $1,589. He also earned boater big bass honors and $520 with a 5-pound, 14-ounce bass.

Rounding out the top five boaters were: Barry Landrum of Sterrett, Ala., with five bass weighing 10 pounds, 10 ounces for $954; John McAlphine of Gallion, Ala., with five bass weighing 10 pounds, 2 ounces for $763; and Greg McPherson of Demopolis, Ala., with five bass weighing 9 pounds, 14 ounces for $699. Matthew Herren of Trussville, Ala., received a $500 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program. He finished in sixth place with a five-bass catch weighing 9 pounds, 10 ounces.

John Thompson of McDonough, Ga., claimed first place and $1,574 in the 103-competitor Co-angler Division with three bass weighing 6 pounds, 12 ounces. He surpassed second-place co-anglers Eric Davenport of Birmingham, Ala., and Mark Sullivan of Collinsville, Miss., by 4 ounces. Davenport and Sullivan tied with identical three-bass catches weighing 6 pounds, 8 ounces worth $629.John Thompson was the winner of the Co-angler Division at the Wal-Mart BFL Bama Division tournament on June 1.

Larry Foshee of Pensacola, Fla., and Jason Willis of Gallion, Ala., rounded out the top five co-anglers. Foshee netted a three-bass catch weighing 6 pounds, 4 ounces for $378, and Willis caught three bass weighing a total of 5 pounds, 10 ounces for $346.

Co-angler Tony Stacy of Andalusia, Ala., earned big bass honors and $257 in his division with a 4-pound bass. He finished 12th thanks to the one fish.

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

The Wal-Mart BFL will visit Lake Eufala for a two-day Super Tournament Sept. 21-22. Following that, the boater with the most points 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 Bama Division boaters and co-anglers will advance to regional competition Oct. 22-26 on Pearl River near Slidell, La., where they will go up against top competitors from the Arkie, Cowboy and Mississippi 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.