Ashmore wins BFL Savannah River Division tournament - Major League Fishing

Ashmore wins BFL Savannah River Division tournament

Image for Ashmore wins BFL Savannah River Division tournament
Kip Ashmore of Evans, Ga., topped more than 130 BFL competitors Feb. 15 on Keowee Lake with five bass weighing 11 pounds, 9 ounces. Angler: George (kip) Ashmore.
February 15, 2003 • MLF • Archives

SENECA, S.C. – Kip Ashmore of Evans, Ga., topped more than 130 Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League competitors Saturday on Keowee Lake with five bass weighing 11 pounds, 9 ounces. The catch earned him $4,238 and 200 points in the Boater Division.

Ashmore caught his limit on a Zoom Super Fluke under cloudy skies. The catch topped second-place boater Steve Hale of Nicholson, Ga., by 10 ounces. Hale finished the one-day tournament with a five-bass catch weighing 10 pounds, 15 ounces worth $2,119.

Shane Lineberger of Lincolnton, N.C., (five bass, 10 pounds, 4 ounces, $1,441) finished third, while Marty Robinson of Greer (five bass, 9 pounds, 11 ounces, $1,017) and Bill Boswell of Elberton, Ga., (five bass, 9 pounds, 11 ounces, $1,017) tied for fourth.

Shane Lineberger of Lincolnton, N.C., earned a $500 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program during the Feb. 15 BFL tourney on Keowee Lake.Lineberger earned a $500 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.

Tony Christian of Hull, Ga., earned boater big-bass honors and $805 with a 5-pound, 5-ounce bass that he caught on a Zoom Speed Worm. He finished in 21st place overall with two bass weighing 6 pounds, 14 ounces.

George Parker of Liberty claimed first place and $2,119 in the 130-plus competitor Co-angler Division with five bass weighing 12 pounds, 6 ounces. He surpassed second-place co-angler Jeffery Wood of Townville by 12 ounces thanks George Parker of Liberty claimed first place Feb. 15 in the 130-plus competitor Co-angler Division of the BFL tournament on Keowee Lake with five bass weighing 12 pounds, 6 ounces.to a blade runner and finesse worm. Wood finished with a five-bass catch weighing 11 pounds, 10 ounces worth $1,060.

Charles Hale of Six Mile (five bass, 10 pounds, 4 ounces, $720); Alan Poston of Travelers Rest (five bass, 9 pounds, 9 ounces, $551); and Ken Smith of Weaverville, N.C. (four bass, 9 pounds, $466) rounded out the top five co-anglers.

Co-angler Phil Parten of Carnesville, Ga., earned big-bass honors and $403 in his division with a 4-pound bass. He finished 39th thanks to the one bass.

The Wal-Mart BFL will visit Lake Russell March 15 for the second of five Savannah River Division events. The boater with the most points after the division’s season finale, a two-day Super Tournament Sept. 27-28 on Clark Hill Lake, 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 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 the Louisiana, Music City and Mississippi 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.

For more information or to enter a tournament, call (270) 252-1000 or browse this Web site.

Wal-Mart and many of America’s most respected companies support FLW Outdoors and its six tournament trails. Wal-Mart has been the title sponsor of FLW Outdoors since 1997. For a complete list of FLW Outdoors sponsors and for more information about the premier products and services they offer, please browse this Web site.

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