Neal named top boater at BFL Mountain Division tournament

Mark Neal of Livingston, Tenn., won the BFL Mountain Division's second regular-season stop, held April 12 on Dale Hollow Lake near Byrdstown. Neal led the field of 174 boaters with a four-bass catch weighing 11 pounds, 13 ounces. Angler: Mark Neal.

April 12, 2003 • MLF • Archives

BYRDSTOWN, Tenn. – Mark Neal of Livingston claimed $4,492 as the winner of the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League Mountain Division’s second regular-season stop, held Saturday on Dale Hollow Lake near Byrdstown. Neal led the field of 174 boaters with a four-bass catch weighing 11 pounds, 13 ounces.

Rounding out the top five boaters are Kevin Powers of Unicoi (five bass, 10 pounds, 1 ounce, $2,246); Keith Monson of Burgin, Ky. (three bass, 9 pounds, 10 ounces, $1,527); Tim Smiley of White Pine (five bass, 9 pounds, 6 ounces, $1,168); and Mark Mauldin of Cleveland (two bass, 8 pounds, 14 ounces, $988).

Monson also claimed a $500 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.

Paul Flatt of Cookeville, Tenn. topped 174 Co-angler Division competitors with a four-bass catch weighing 8 pounds, 15 ounces. Flatt earned $2,246 for the win.

Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Douglas Burke of Castlewood, Va. (two bass, 7 pounds, 5 ounces, $1,123); Todd Morris of Nicholasville, Ky. (four bass, 7 pounds, 3 ounces, $764); Mark Owens of Somerset, Ky. (three bass, 5 pounds, 15 ounces, $584); and Michael York of Paint Lick, Ky. (three bass, 5 pounds, 14 ounces, $494).

Kevin Hatfield of Grays Knob, Ky. earned boater big-bass honors and $870 with a 5-pound, 3-ounce bass, and Burke earned co-angler big-bass honors and $435 in his division with a 5-pound, 8-ounce bass.

The Mountain Division will make its third regular-season stop June 7 on Barren River in Lucas, Ky., followed by an event on Douglas Lake in Sevierville June 28. The final regular-season event, a two-day Super Tournament, will be held Sept. 27-28 on Cherokee Lake in Morristown. Following the regular season, the boater with the most points will be declared the Yamaha “Be the Best” points leader and awarded $1,000. The co-angler with the most points following the regular season will earn $500.

The top 30 Mountain Division boaters and co-anglers will advance to regional competition Oct. 21-25 on Clark Hill Lake near Thomson, Ga., where they will go up against top competitors from the Choo Choo, Gator and Piedmont divisions for a shot at qualifying for the Wal-Mart BFL All-American – one of the most lucrative postseason tournaments in competitive angling.

As much as $6 million will be awarded in the 2003 Wal-Mart BFL.

Editor’s Note: Ranger Cup award winners are pending verification by Ranger Boats and thus are unofficial at this time.