Shore wins BFL Okie Division tournament

John Shore of Owasso won the BFL Okie Division’s third regular-season stop, held June 14 on Keystone Lake near Manford. Shore led the field of 137 boaters with a four-bass catch weighing 12 pounds, 6 ounces. Angler: John Shore.

June 14, 2003 • MLF • Archives

MANFORD, Okla. – John Shore of Owasso claimed $3,798 as the winner of the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League Okie Division’s third regular-season stop, held Saturday on Keystone Lake near Manford. Shore led the field of 137 boaters with a four-bass catch weighing 12 pounds, 6 ounces.

Rounding out the top five boaters are Jeff Tipton of Afton (five bass, 11 pounds, 11 ounces, $1,899); Billy Lemon of Sand Springs (five bass, 11 pounds, 7 ounces, $1,291); Gil Keener Jr. of Muskogee (five bass, 10 pounds, 9 ounces, $987); and Jerry Lee of Kiefer (four bass, 8 pounds, 8 ounces, $835).

Richard Holland of Tulsa claimed a $500 bonus from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.

Joseph Vaughn of Sapulpa topped 137 Co-angler Division competitors with a four-bass catch weighing 8 pounds, 10 ounces. Vaughn earned $1,899 for the win.

Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Steve Bradfield of Claremore (three bass, 7 pounds, 14 ounces, $949); Chris Cox of Jennings (two bass, 6 pounds, 6 ounces, $646); James Victory of Coweta (two bass, 6 pounds, 1 ounce, $494); and Jack Armstrong Jr. of Sallisaw (two bass, 6 pounds, $418).

Walter Andries of Coweta earned boater big-bass honors and $685 with a 4-pound, 3-ounce bass, and Cox earned co-angler big-bass honors and $343 in his division with a 4-pound, 14-ounce bass.

The Okie Division will make its fourth regular-season stop July 12 on Kerr Lake in Webber Falls. The final regular-season event, a two-day Super Tournament, will be held Sept. 6-7 on Grand Lake in Grove. 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 Okie Division boaters and co-anglers will advance to regional competition Oct. 14-18 on Beaver Lake near Rogers, Ark., where they will go up against top competitors from the Great Lakes, LBL and Ozark 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.