Sykes wins Wal-Mart BFL Piedmont Division tournament

Brandon Sykes of Kinston won the BFL Piedmont Division’s fourth regular-season stop, held July 19 on the Neuse River near New Bern, N.C. Sykes led the field of 161 boaters with a four-bass catch weighing 11 pounds, 9 ounces. Angler: Brandon Sykes.

July 19, 2003 • MLF • Archives

NEW BERN, N.C. – Brandon Sykes of Kinston claimed $4,238 as the winner of the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League Piedmont Division’s fourth regular-season stop, held Saturday on the Neuse River near New Bern. Sykes led the field of 161 boaters with a four-bass catch weighing 11 pounds, 9 ounces. Sykes caught his bass Saturday using a top-water lure.

Rounding out the top five boaters are Jared Sasnett of Kinston (five bass, 11 pounds, 1 ounce, $2,119); Mike Barnes of Hampstead (five bass, 9 pounds, $1,441); Claude Williams of Newport (five bass, 8 pounds, 7 ounces, $1,102); and Chris Baldwin of Lexington (four bass, 7 pounds, 15 ounces, $932).

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

Dave Murdock of Florence, S.C., topped 161 Co-angler Division competitors with a three-bass catch weighing 4 pounds, 14 ounces that he caught using a watermelon Wacky Worm. Murdock earned $2,119 for the win.

In second place was George Chlomoudis of Winterville with a three-bass catch weighing 4 pounds, 13 ounces that earned him $1,060. Third place was Jason Densmore of Marietta, Ga., with a two-bass catching weighing 3 pounds, 15 ounces that earned him $720. Fourth place was Robert Green of Sedalia with a two-bass catch weighing 3 pounds, 13 ounces that earned him $551. Tied for fifth place were Lyn Joyner of Rocky Mount (one bass, 3 pounds, 6 ounces) and Christopher Fabrizio of Kernersville (two bass, 3 pounds, 6 ounces). Each received $423 for their catch.

Sykes earned boater big-bass honors and $805 with a 4-pound, 7-ounce bass, and Joyner earned co-angler big-bass honors and $403 in his division with a 3-pound, 6-ounce bass.

The Piedmont Division’s final regular-season event, a two-day Super Tournament, will be held Oct. 4-5 on Kerr Lake in Henderson. 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 Piedmont 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, Mountain and Gator 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.