For additional information, please contact:
Dave Washburn, communications director, (270) 252-1607
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DEARMAN WINS WAL-MART BASS FISHING LEAGUE SUPER TOURNAMENT ON SAM
RAYBURN
JASPER, Texas (Sept. 30, 2002) – Slade Dearman of Onalaska, Texas,
topped 154 Boater Division competitors on Sam Rayburn Reservoir this
weekend with a five-bass catch weighing 16 pounds, 5 ounces. He earned
$8,088 and 300 points for the win at the Wal-Mart Bass Fishing League
Cowboy Division season finale.
Dearman out-fished runner up Jim Behnken of Garden Ridge, Texas, by 2
pounds, 9 ounces to take the win. Behnken finished up with a five-bass
catch weighing 13 pounds, 12 ounces to win $4,044. Behnken also earned a
$500 bonus as the highest-finishing participant in the Ranger Cup
incentive program.
Kraig Welborn of Deridder, La. (five bass, 13 pounds, 9 ounces,
$2,191); John Christ of Huntsville, Texas (five bass, 11 pounds, 11
ounces, $1,854); and George Jeane Jr. of Evans, La., (four bass, 11
pounds, 6 ounces, $1,517) rounded out the top five boaters.
Chris Wilkerson of Livingston, Texas, took boater big-bass honors and
$1,540 for an 8-pound, 2-ounce bass.
Darryl Hunter of Kingwood, Texas, topped 153 competitors in the
Co-angler Division to take first place and $1,540 thanks to a
final-round catch of four bass weighing 8 pounds, 2 ounces. Second place
in the division and $2,009 went to Bobby Parrish of Center, Texas, with
a four-bass catch weighing 9 pounds, 7 ounces, followed by Neil Ward Jr.
of Cypress, Texas, in third place with two bass weighing 9 pounds, 4
ounces worth $1,088.
Barry Helberg of The Woodlands, Texas, won the co-angler big-bass
award of $765 with a 7-pound, 2-ounce bass.
The top 30 boaters and top 30 co-anglers in the Cowboy Division will
advance to regional competition Oct. 22-26 on the Pearl River near
Slidell, La., where they will go up against top competitors from the
Arkie, Bama and Mississippi divisions for a shot at qualifying for the
BFL All-American, one of the most lucrative postseason tournaments in
competitive angling.
2002 BFL awards could reach $7 million based on full fields.
Sponsors of the 2002 Wal-Mart BFL are Wal-Mart, ALPO Pet Foods, BC
Powder, BFGoodrich Tires, Castrol, Chevy Trucks, Conseco, Energizer,
EverStart Batteries, Evinrude, Faded Glory, Frito-Lay, FujiFilm, Garmin,
Kellogg’s, Land O’Lakes, Minn Kota, Newell Rubbermaid, Pepsi, Poulan,
Ranger Boats, Shop-Vac, Snickers, Stanley Works, Stren, U.S. Bank, Weed
Eater and Yamaha Outboards.