Edwards wins Wal-Mart BFL event at Lake Russell

ELBERTON, Ga. – Boater James Edwards of Greenville, S.C., earned $4,822 Saturday as winner of the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League Savannah River Division event on Lake Russell. The tournament was the second of five regular-season Savannah River Division events and featured 190 boaters vying for the win, which earned Edwards 200 points in the Boater Division.

Edwards’ winning catch of five bass weighed 16 pounds, 5 ounces. Edwards claimed the win in only his second career BFL event. He finished 20th at the Savannah River Division season opener on Keowee Lake in February.

Finishing second was Jesse Dellinger of Bogart with five bass weighing 15 pounds, 6 ounces that earned him $2,411. Steve Foster of Jasper claimed $1,639 as the third-place finisher thanks to five bass weighing 14 pounds, 12 ounces. In fourth was Craig Johnson of Martinez with five bass weighing 14 pounds, 10 ounces worth $1,254, and finishing fifth and earning $1,061 was Dan Morrow of Eastanollee with five bass weighing 13 pounds, 12 ounces.

Dellinger took Boater Division big-bass award honors, earning $950 for a 5-pound, 9-ounce bass. Dellinger also earned $500 from Ranger Boats as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup incentive program.

Jim Way of McLeansville, N.C., bested 190 Co-angler Division competitors to earn $2,411 as the co-angler winner, thanks to five bass weighing 11 pounds, 3 ounces.

Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Bobby Thornton of Greer, S.C. (five bass, 11 pounds, 1 ounce, $1,205); Darby Comas of Athens (five bass, 10 pounds, 9 ounces, $820); Jeff Rikard of Leesville, S.C. (four bass, 10 pounds, 8 ounces, $627); and Don Kohli of Lincolnton (five bass, 10 pounds, 7 ounces, $530).

Rikard earned $475 as the co-angler big-bass award winner with a 5-pound, 7-ounce bass.

The Savannah River Division’s next event will be held April 3 on Lake Hartwell near Seneca, S.C., followed by an event on Clarks Hill Lake in Thomson May 8. The Savannah River Division will wrap up its regular season Sept. 25-26 with a two-day Super Tournament on Clarks Hill Lake near Thomson.

Following the regular season, the Savannah River Division boater with the most points will earn $1,000 as the Yamaha “Be the Best” points leader. The co-angler amassing the most points will earn $500 as the Yamaha “Be the Best” points leader in the Co-angler Division.

Every angler who receives weight credit in a tournament earns points, with 200 points going to the winner, 199 for second, 198 for third, and so on except for Super Tournaments, which award 300 points to the winner, 299 for second, 298 for third, and so on. The top 30 Savannah River Division boaters and co-anglers based on year-end points standings will advance to the Kerr Lake regional near Henderson, N.C.., Oct. 5-9, where they will compete against Buckeye, Carolina and Northeast division anglers for one of six slots in the 2005 All-American. With a $100,000 cash prize going to the winning boater and $50,000 going to the winning co-angler, the All-American is one of the most prestigious and lucrative events in bass fishing.

The $6.3 million Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League features 24 divisions nationwide. In BFL competition, boaters and co-anglers are randomly paired, with boaters supplying the boat and fishing against other boaters and co-anglers fishing from the back deck against other co-anglers. For more information or to enter a tournament, call (270) 252-1000 or browse this Web site.

Wal-Mart and many of America’s most respected companies support FLW Outdoors and its six tournament trails. Wal-Mart has been the title sponsor of FLW Outdoors since 1997. For a complete list of FLW Outdoors sponsors and for more information about the premier products and services they offer, please visit FLWOutdoors.com’s sponsor page.