Montgomery in money at Buckeye Division tournament

Robert Montgomery of Connelsville, Pa., won the BFL Buckeye Division’s second regular-season stop, held June 7 on Lake Erie near Sandusky, Ohio. Montgomery led the field of 156 boaters with a five-bass catch weighing 18 pounds, 5 ounces. Angler: Robert Montgomery.

June 7, 2003 • MLF • Archives

SANDUSKY, Ohio – Robert Montgomery of Connelsville, Pa., claimed $4,152 as the winner of the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League Buckeye Division’s second regular-season stop, held Saturday on Lake Erie near Sandusky. Montgomery led the field of 156 boaters with a five-bass catch weighing 18 pounds, 5 ounces.

Montgomery earned another $1,000 from Garmin for using a fixed-mount Garmin Fishfinder or combination GPS/sounder.

Rounding out the top five boaters are Rob Webber of Elyria (five bass, 18 pounds, 3 ounces, $2,076); Joe Balog of Independence (five bass, 17 pounds, 9 ounces, $1,412); Gary Becker of St. Mary’s (five bass, 17 pounds, 6 ounces, $1,080); and Cecil Cole of Durand, Mich. (five bass, 17 pounds, 5 ounces, $914).

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

Rob Sierschula of Huber Heights topped 152 Co-angler Division competitors with a five-bass catch weighing 17 pounds, 8 ounces. Sierschula earned $2,048 for the win.

Finishing in second place was James Cupp of Cleveland with a five-bass catch weighing 16 pounds, 13 ounces that earned him $1,024. Tied for third place were Jim Murphy of Canton and Roy Lester of Hamilton (five bass, 16 pounds, 3 ounces). Each received $614 for their catch. Finishing fifth was Bruce Downs of Cincinnati with a five-bass catch weighing 16 pounds that earned him $451.

David Fyffe of Newark earned boater big-bass honors and $780 with a 5-pound, 2-ounce bass, and William Gordon of Newark earned co-angler big-bass honors and $380 in his division with a 4-pound, 12-ounce bass.

The Buckeye Division will make its third regular-season stop July 19 on the Ohio River in Maysville, Ky., followed by an event on the Ohio River near Lawrenceburg, Ind., Aug. 16. The final regular-season event, a two-day Super Tournament, will be held Sept. 13-14 on Lake Erie in Sandusky. 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 Buckeye 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 Michigan, Northeast and Shenandoah 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.