Jennings wins Wal-Mart BFL Piedmont Division tournament

Jeff Jennings of Biscoe won the BFL Piedmont Division’s third regular-season stop, held June 28 on Kerr Lake near Henderson. Jennings led the field of 199 boaters with a five-bass catch weighing 16 pounds, 12 ounces. Angler: Jeff Jennings.

June 28, 2003 • MLF • Archives

HENDERSON, N.C. – Jeff Jennings of Biscoe claimed $5,011 as the winner of the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League Piedmont Division’s third regular-season stop, held Saturday on Kerr Lake near Henderson. Jennings led the field of 199 boaters with a five-bass catch weighing 16 pounds, 12 ounces. Jennings caught his bass Saturday flipping a jig.

In second place was Sam Cole of Lexington with a five-bass catch weighing 16 pounds, 7 ounces that earned him $2,506. Tied for third place were Scooter Lilley of Williamston and Walter Hash of Dublin, Va., with a five-bass catch weighing 14 pounds, 3 ounces. Each received $1,503 for his catch. In fifth place was Vernon Wilson of Boydton, Va., with a five-bass catch weighing 13 pounds, 12 ounces that earned him $1,102.

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

Eric Rumley of Princeton, W.Va., topped 196 Co-angler Division competitors with a five-bass catch weighing 16 pounds that he caught flipping a jig. Rumley earned $2,468 for the win.

Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Fred Blakley of Greensboro (five bass, 13 pounds, 13 ounces, $1,234); Randy Buchanan of Bullock (five bass, 12 pounds, 13 ounces, $839); Terry Wien of Lexington (five bass, 12 pounds, 2 ounces, $642); and Steven Farr of Holly Springs (five bass, 12 pounds, 1 ounce, $543).

Rodney Bell of Salisbury earned boater big-bass honors and $995 with a 5-pound, 14-ounce bass, and Blakley earned co-angler big-bass honors and $490 in his division with a 6-pound, 6-ounce bass.

The Piedmont Division will make its fourth regular-season stop July 19 on the Neuse River in New Bern. The final regular-season event, a two-day Super Tournament, will be held Oct. 4-5 on Kerr Lake in Henderson. 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 Piedmont Division boaters and co-anglers will advance to regional competition Oct. 21-25 on Clark Hill Lake near Thomson, Ga., where they will go up against top competitors from the Choo Choo, Mountain and Gator 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.

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