Bass pro Jason Williamson of Wagener held on to his third-day lead to win the Bassmaster Elite Series’ Pride of Georgia Tournament on Clarks Hill in late-May by two ounces.
Williamson had a great day on the tournament’s third day, catching the biggest bag of the event, 19 pounds, two ounces, to take a lead of better than four pounds. On the final day, he caught a 5-fish limit that weighed 7-10, which was good enough for a 2-ounce win over runner-up Cliff Crochet of Pierre Part, La.
Williamson’s 4-day total of 53-6 also included a 7-12 lunker on the third day that was the tournament’s big fish.
The win was worth $100,000 to Williamson, 29, who had a runner-up finish earlier this season on the Bassmaster Elite series. It was the second win of his short career on the Elite series.
Casey Ashley of Donalds took seventh place with 43-7, and Marty Robinson of Lyman was 20th with 30-11.
Earlier in May, pro Davy Hite of Ninety Six had a near miss, finishing second in a Bassmaster Elite tournament on Alabama’s Lake Guntersville. Hite led after the third day but dropped to second behind winner Skeet Reese on the final day.
Montgomery wins Southern Open
Andy Montgomery of Blacksburg won the May 13-15 Bassmaster Southern Open on Smith Lake out of Jasper, Ala.
His catch of 34-9 was worth $46,028.57. He had consistent limits of 11-3, 12-2 and 11-4 to win by slightly more than a pound.
Lake Wylie’s Todd Auten was fourth with 30-3, and Davy Hite of Ninety Six was eighth with 27-5.
Anders wins BFL at Hartwell
Michael Anders of Pelzer caught a 5-bass limit weighing 17.06 pounds to win $4,652 in the BFL Savannah River Division tournament on Lake Hartwell May 8.
Trad Whaley of Abbeville was second with 17 pounds, winning $2,326. Brandon Cobb of Greenwood was third with 16.63 pounds for $1,551. Chris Powell of Williamston was fourth with 16.3 for $1,086. and Kerry Partain of Elberton, Ga., rounded out the top five at 14.94, winning $930.
Scott Gardner of Seneca caught a 5-bass limit weighing 13.38 pounds to win the co-angler division and $2,253. Michael Hanna of Belton and Daniel Surett of Greenville tied for second with 10.56, winning $949 each. Barry Littlefield of Taylors and James Wood of Pickens tied for fourth with 10.19, winning $488 each.
Aiken, Anders tie in Weekend Series
Barton Aiken and Michael Anders tied for first place in the Bassmaster Weekend Series tournament May 1 on Lake Hartwell.
Aiken and Anders both finished with 5-fish limits that weighed 17.98 pounds.
Christopher Powell was third with 17.61, followed by David Vaughn at 17.03 and Jeremy Wilson with 13.48.
David Cunningham won the co-angler division with three fish that weighed 9.47 pounds. Zach Watkins finished second with 9.23; John King was third with 9.20, and Sam Naib and Steve Felder Jr. rounded out the top five at 9.07 and 8.99 pounds, respectively.
Knowlton is Federation’s junior state champion
Joshua Knowlton finished first in the 11-14 age group at the Bass Federation of South Carolina’s “Junior Bass Anglers” state championship on Lake Murray in early May.
Knowlton won with a 5-fish limit that weighed 9.21 pounds. Ashley Brantley was second with 7.68 pounds, including a 2.84-pound fish that took big-fish honors in that age division. Tanner Lindler was third with 3.63 pounds.
Shane Cantley finished first in the 15-17 age group with 7.87, followed by Zachary Linowski with 7.34 and O.J. McEachern with 6.58. Ashton Knowlton had the big bass, a 4.35-pound lunker.
Joshua Knowlton and Shane Cantley will represent South Carolina at the TBF Juniors National Championship, which will be held in conjunction with the FLW Tour event on Lake Lanier, Ga., in August.
Durant wins Midlands Striper tourney
Billy Durant of Chapin was the big winner in the Midlands Striper Club’s May 15 tournament on Lake Murray.
Durant had the day’s big fish, a 9-4 striper, and finished first with 19-6 overall.
Gary Heichelbech of Lexington was second with 17-4. Van Cook of Chapin took third with 15-12.
Thirty-seven fishermen competed, and 28 weighed in 67 fish, including 15 3-fish limits. Six fish exceeding 15 pounds were weighed in.
Walhalla pair wins on Lake Keowee
Roger Bentley and Gene McCall of Walhalla won the first annual Oconee A.I.D. Association bass tournament May 1 on Lake Keowee.
Bentley and McCall weighed in 9.24 pounds. Frank Pursley and Angus Pursley of Seneca took big-fish honors at 3.10.
Proceeds from the tournament will go to assist individuals and families experiencing crisis situations in Oconee County.
Smith is Savannah River Classic champ
Porter Smith of Allendale was the overall winner and named grand champion at the second Annual Savannah River Classic.
Smith’s catch included a 4.12-pound largemouth bass.
Mike Ogelsby of Allendale caught a 2.06-pound catfish, and Rodney Stanley of Allendale caught a 13-ounce panfish.
In the youth category, Hannah Lucas of Allendale had 10.7 pounds of catfish, and Jordan Ogelsby of Allendale caught 11.65 pounds of panfish.
Swez wins on Hartwell
Mark Swez of Fountain Inn took first place and won $1,000 in the May 1 William F. Schuck Memorial Tournament on Lake Hartwell.
Swez’s winning 5-fish limit weighed 17 pounds. Harold Turner and Michael Rowland of Clemson finished second with 16.11; Larry Martin and Jim Ruthedge of Anderson were third with 15.49; Todd Pearson of Anderson and Johnny Hancox of West Union finished fourth with 14.68; and Johnny Hancox won the big-fish award with a 5.63-pound fish.
All proceeds go directly to the family of William F. Schuck, an Oconee County Sheriff’s deputy who lost his life while on duty.
Tidwell wins on Lake Keowee
Mike Tidwell of Walhalla won the South Carolina Family Connection Fishing Tournament for Children with Special Needs on Lake Keowee May 22.
Tidwell finished with a 5-bass limit that weighed 11.89 pounds. Gary Moore and Daniel Moore finished second with 7.16, and Gary Moore caught a 4.92-pound lunker that won big-fish honors.s
BASS TOURNAMENTS
CAROLINA ANGLERS TEAM TRAIL
Lake Murray May 8
1. Randall Driggers (Turbeville)-Josh McGregor (Timmonsville), 5 bass, 19.38 pounds, $3,160, plus bonus, $7,830; 2. Johnny Mayer (Pomaria)-Chris Epting (Chapin), 5, 17.44, plus 4.69 second big fish, $1,638; 3. Joey Sabbagha (Little Mountain)-Charlie Metts (Chapin), 5, 15.06, $1,000; 4. Darryl Starkey (Little Mountain)-Chris Daves (Columbia), 15 pounds, $700; 5. Casey Logan (Hopkins)-Tom Fine (Lexington), 14.75, $500.
Lake Wylie May 8
1. Rusty White (Rock Hill), 5 bass, 17.69 pounds, $2,500; 2. Louie Hull (Casar, NC)-Chuck Montgomery (Grover, NC), 5, 16.77, plus 5.79-pound big fish, $1,403; 3. Thomas Richmond (Rock Hill)-Juan Mobley (Charlotte, NC), 5, 16.22 pounds, plus 4.85 second big fish, $1117; 4. Tim Chapman (Kings Mountain, N.C.)-Eddie Smith (Gastonia, N.C.), 15.31, $500; 5. Larry Yancey-Milton Yancey (Vale, N.C.), 14.18, $300.
2010 Classic, Lake Murray May 15-16
1. Sean Anderson (Leeseville)-George Berry (Batesburg), 38.5, $6,650; 2. Rob Thames (Lexington)- Mike Ward (Irmo), 33.0, $2,600; 3. Michael Stribble (Newberry)-Hunter Spivey (Conway), 31.13, $1,500; 4. Kevin Fulmer (Prosperity)-Al Fortner (Ninety Six), 30.81, $1,000; 5.Darryl Starkey (Little Mountain)- Chris Daves (Columbia), 20.69, $700.
Upcoming tournaments
The Shriners Hospitals for Children Catfish Tournament will be held July 17 at the Greenwood State Park on Lake Greenwood.
The entry fee is $125 per team, with a 60-percent payback to the top 10 percent of entries. Big fish is $10, with a 100-percent payback.
For information, contact Gary Case, 864- 844-3355.
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