Williamson wins Wal-Mart BFL Savannah River Division tournament

Jason Williamson of Aiken, S.C., won the BFL Savannah River Division's fourth regular-season stop, held May 3 on Clark Hill Lake near Thomson, Ga. Williamson led the field of 133 boaters with a five-bass catch weighing 18 pounds, 3 ounces. Angler: Jason Williamson.

May 3, 2003 • MLF • Archives

THOMSON, Ga. – Jason Williamson of Aiken, S.C., claimed $3,746 as the winner of the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League Savannah River Division’s fourth regular-season stop, held Saturday on Clark Hill Lake near Thomson. Williamson led the field of 133 boaters with a five-bass catch weighing 18 pounds, 3 ounces.

Fishing second was Bobby Stanfill of Greenwood, S.C., with five bass weighing 17 pounds, 4 ounces worth $1,873. Mike Stewart of Weaverville, N.C., finished third with five bass weighing 16 pounds, 3 ounces that earned him $1,274. Tied for fourth place were Donald Miller of Martinez and Patrick Brown of Swainsboro with five bass weighing 15 pounds, 9 ounces. Each received $899 for their catch.

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

Brady Vaughn of Hartwell topped 130 Co-angler Division competitors with a five-bass catch weighing 14 pounds, 14 ounces. Vaughn earned $1,831 for the win.

Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Nathan Turbyfill of Candler, N.C. (five bass, 12 pounds, 14 ounces, $915); Scott Guyot of Charlotte, N.C. (five bass, 12 pounds, 12 ounces, $623); Sandy Thornton of Elberton (four bass, 11 pounds, 11 ounces, $476); and Keith Connor of Cleveland (five bass, 11 pounds, 5 ounces, $403).

Joseph Zielinski of Belvedere, S.C., earned boater big-bass honors and $665 with a 6-pound, 10-ounce bass, and Duane McMullen of Etowah, N.C., earned co-angler big-bass honors and $325 in his division with an 5-pound, 15-ounce bass.

The Savannah River Division’s final regular-season event, a two-day Super Tournament, will be held Sept. 27-28 on Clark Hill Lake in Thomson. 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 Savannah River Division boaters and co-anglers will advance to regional competition Oct. 7-11 on Lake Eufaula near Eufaula, Ala., where they will go up against top competitors from Louisiana, Mississippi and Music City 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.