Parks wins Wal-Mart BFL Super Tournament on Lake Murray

PROSPERITY, S.C. – Boater Woody Parks of Lincolnton, Ga., won the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League South Carolina Division Super Tournament on Lake Murray with a two-day catch of nine bass weighing 26 pounds, 9 ounces. The victory earned Parks $5,145 and placed him one step closer to qualifying for the Clarks Hill Lake Regional Championship in Appling, Ga., Oct. 11-13, where he could ultimately win a new 519VX Ranger boat and a Chevy truck.

Parks caught his bass throwing a Zoom Fluke in open water near the south end of the lake.

Rounding out the top five boaters are Bob Lingenfelter of Gilbert, S.C. (seven bass, 23-4, $3,026); Jason Williamson of Aiken, S.C. (nine bass, 22-15, $2,018); Kevin Ashley of Greenwood, S.C. (eight bass, 22-13, $1,412); and Sean Anderson of Saluda, S.C. (10 bass, 21-4, $1,211).

Brad Fowler of Pendleton, S.C., took home the Boater Division Snickers Big Bass award, earning $817 for a 6-pound, 4-ounce bass.

Todd Lawrence of Rock Hill, S.C., earned $3,027 as the co-angler winner thanks to seven bass weighing 18 pounds, 1 ounce that he caught while fishing a Heddon Zara Spook and Zoom Fluke at the lower end of the lake.

Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Audie Brantley of North Augusta, S.C. (eight bass, 17-11, $1,513); Don Shelly of Aiken, S.C. (eight bass, 12-12, $1,010); Joe Mance of Charlotte, N.C. (five bass, 12-6, $706); and Cylde Whiteside of Forest City, N.C. (four bass, 12-3, $605).

Whiteside also earned $409 as the co-angler Big Bass winner after catching a 5-pound, 1-ounce bass.

Following the end of regular-season competition, the top 40 boaters and 40 co-anglers based on year-end points standings in the division will advance to the no-entry-fee Clarks Hill Lake Regional Championship where they will compete against top qualifiers from three other BFL divisions. At the Regional Championship boaters will fish for a new Ranger boat and Chevy truck and co-anglers will fish for a new Ranger boat. The top six boaters and top six co-anglers at the Regional Championship will also advance to the 2008 All-American presented by Chevy. With a total purse of $1 million, a potential $140,000 cash prize going to the winning boater and as much as $70,000 going to the winning co-angler, the All-American is one of the most prestigious and lucrative events in bass fishing. The winning boater and winning co-angler at the All-American also advance to the no-entry-fee $2 million 2008 Forrest Wood Cup. This event, featuring a top award of $1 million, is the sport’s biggest championship.

The $8.8 million Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League features 28 divisions nationwide. In BFL competition, boaters and co-anglers are randomly paired. Boaters supply the boat and fish from the front deck against other boaters while co-anglers compete from the back deck against other co-anglers.

Named after the legendary founder of Ranger Boats, Forrest L. Wood, FLW Outdoors administers the Wal-Mart FLW Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Series, Stren Series, Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League, Wal-Mart Texas Tournament Trail presented by Abu Garcia, Ranger Owners Tournament Championship Series, Wal-Mart FLW Walleye Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Walleye League, Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Tour, Wal-Mart FLW Kingfish Series, Wal-Mart FLW Redfish Series and Wal-Mart FLW Striper Series. These circuits will offer combined purses of nearly $43 million through 241 events in 2007.

Wal-Mart and many of America’s largest and most respected companies support FLW Outdoors and its tournament trails. Wal-Mart signed on as an FLW Outdoors sponsor in 1997 and today is the world’s leading supporter of tournament fishing. For more information about Wal-Mart, visit Walmart.com.

For more information about FLW Outdoors and its tournaments, browse FLWOutdoors.com or call (270) 252-1000.