CLEWISTON, Fla. – Gerry Williams of Winter Garden, Fla., out-fished 110 competitors this weekend to earn $7,913 and 100 CITGO Challenge Points on the boater side of the Red Man Tournament Trail’s Gator Division season finale – a two-day Super Tournament on Lake Okeechobee.
Williams caught five bass weighing 23 pounds, 5 ounces on opening day to qualify for the second and final day of competition. On day two, he caught five more bass weighing 24-7 to top Larry Wright of Okeechobee, Fla., who finished with a day-two catch of 15-7 worth $3,957. Williams caught his limits along the north shore while flipping a blue tube bait to shallow reeds.
John Bitter of Maitland, Fla., took third place and collected $1,978 with a day-two catch weighing 15-2. Barry Macchione of Winter Haven, Fla., placed fourth and earned $1,715 with a day-two catch weighing 12-3.
Larry Crossman of Boynton Beach, Fla., was declared the Divisional Points Champion and awarded $1,000 after amassing 177 points through five regular season events.
First place in the Co-Angler Division and $3,957 went to Red Downey of Fort Myers, Fla., who topped 110 competitors with a day-two catch of one bass weighing 7 pounds, 5 ounces. Downey caught bass weighing 12-3 on opening day to qualify for the final round.
Second place in the Co-Angler Division and $1,978 went to Steve Montelaro of Palm Harbor, Fla., with a day-two catch weighing 5-12, while Ski Olesky of Immokalee, Fla., took third place and $989 with a day-two catch weighing 4-10.
Jim Haynes of Jacksonville, Fla., amassed more points than any other co-angler during five regular season events to win the Co-Angler Divisional Points title and $500. Haynes earned 181 points this season.
The trail’s championship event, the Red Man All-American, will award $100,000 to the winning boater and $50,000 to the winning co-angler. Overall, more than $5.7 million could be awarded in 2000 based on full fields in each of the series’ 119 events nationwide.
Red Man became the trail’s title sponsor in 1983. Wal-Mart recently announced that it has assumed title sponsorship of the tournament series for 2001 and will rename it the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League.