CAMDEN, S.C. – Joey Bramlett, 41, of Darlington, S.C., out-fished 133 competitors Saturday to earn $4,546 and 50 CITGO Challenge Points on the boater side of the Red Man Tournament Trail’s Carolina Division event on Lake Wateree.
Bramlett caught five bass weighing 19 pounds during the one-day event to top Ronnie Tapp of Boiling Springs, S.C., who finished with a five-bass catch of 15-2 worth $2,273. Bramlett caught his limit using a Carolina rig and a crankbait.
Steve Phillips of Lugoff, S.C., took third place and collected $1,136 with five bass weighing 14-11. Greg Lovelace of Bostic, N.C., placed fourth and earned $985 with five bass weighing 14-8, while Johnny Barfield of Hartsville, S.C., placed fifth and earned $909 with five bass weighing 14-0.
Wayne Jeffcoat, 23, of Chapin, S.C., and Gary Cline, 44, of Lexington, N.C., tied for the Abu Garcia Big Bass Award in the Boater Division with a 5-pound, 5-ounce bass apiece. Both bass were caught off a boat dock in the upper part of the lake on a plastic worm. Each man received $665 for his catch.
First place in the Co-Angler Division and $2,242 went to Ray Baskin, 76, of Clemmons, N.C., who topped 128 competitors with five bass weighing 13-0. Second place in the Co-Angler Division and $1,121 went to W.R. Wideman of McCormick, S.C., with five bass weighing 12-2, while Josh Coleman of Lyman, S.C., took third place and $560 with five bass weighing 11-12.
Brian Seagraves, 33, of Greensboro, N.C., won the co-angler Abu Garcia Big Bass Award of $320 with a 5-pound, 5-ounce bass that he caught on a deep diving crankbait.
The boater with the most CITGO Challenge points after the division’s season finale, a two-day Super Tournament Sept. 9-10 on Lake Murray, will be declared the Divisional Points Champion and awarded $1,000. The co-angler amassing the most points by the end of the season will receive $500.