Wright wins Wal-Mart BFL Shenandoah Division tournament

David Wright of Lexington, N.C., won the BFL Shenandoah Division’s third regular-season stop, held June 7 on Kerr Lake near South Hill, Va. Wright led the field of 187 boaters with a five-bass catch weighing 16 pounds, 9 ounces. Angler: David Wright.

June 7, 2003 • MLF • Archives

SOUTH HILL, Va. – David Wright of Lexington, N.C., claimed $4,746 as the winner of the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League Shenandoah Division’s third regular-season stop, held Saturday on Kerr Lake near South Hill. Wright led the field of 187 boaters with a five-bass catch weighing 16 pounds, 9 ounces.

Wright caught his bass Saturday flipping a jig with a Super Chunk in Nutbush Creek. As the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program, Wright also claimed a $1,000 bonus from Ranger Boats.

Finishing in second place was Ernie Freeman of Lothian, Md., with a five-bass catch weighing 15 pounds, 7 ounces that earned him $2,373. Third place was Marty Schray of Sterling with a five-bass catch weighing 14 pounds, 2 ounces that earned him $1,613. Tied for fourth place were Rick Davis of Greensboro, N.C., and Daniel Fletcher of Stokesdale, N.C. They each had a five-bass catch weighing 14 pounds. Both earned $1,139 for their catch.

Tony Woodard of Four Oaks, N.C., and Mark Moretz of Chesapeake tied for boater big-bass honors. Each caught a 4-pound, 15-ounce bass and earned $468 for the catch.

Mark Robertson of Henderson, N.C., topped 185 Co-angler Division competitors with a five-bass catch weighing 16 pounds, 6 ounces that he caught flipping a black and blue jig. Robertson earned $2,367 for the win. He also earned co-angler big-bass honors and $463 in his division with an 5-pound, 10-ounce bass.

Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Mark Beck of Thomasville, N.C. (five bass, 11 pounds, 10 ounces, $1,183); Tony Toombs of Drakes Branch (five bass, 10 pounds, 13 ounces, $805); Jerry Comperatore of Tarentum, Pa. (five bass, 10 pounds, 11 ounces, $615); and Charlie Fain of Stuart (five bass, 10 pounds, 7 ounces, $521).

Tony Woodard of Four Oaks, N.C., and Mark Moretz of Chesapeake earned boater big-bass honors and $468 with a 4-pound, 15-ounce bass.

The Shenandoah Division will make its fourth regular-season stop July 26 on the James River in Richmond. The final regular-season event, a two-day Super Tournament, will be held Sept. 27-28 on the Potomac River in Woodbridge. 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 Shenandoah Division boaters and co-anglers will advance to regional competition Oct. 7-11 on Lake Chautauqua near Jamestown, N.Y., where they will go up against top competitors from the Buckeye, Michigan and Northeast 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.