1st Place	2nd Place
3rd Place
1st Day Big Bass Winners
Results

WINFIELD, Ga. — A pair of Mississippi fishermen parlayed a lucky penny into the $70,000 first-place prize in the Angler’s Choice Southeast Region bass fishing championship on Clarks Hill Lake Saturday, Oct. 12.

Gary Brown of Gautier and Andy Nil;es of Moss Point weighed in 10 largemouth bass totaling 25.10 pounds over the two-day tournament and won a pair of fully rigged Bass Cat Pantera boats valued at $35,000 each. They represented the Mississippi Gulf Coast Division of the Angler’s Choice Trail and Rocky Rowell, its director, was on hand to help them celebrate.

"My sons, 7-year-old Newt and 5-year-old Hagan, met me on the road as I was leaving to come here and gave me a penny for luck," Brown said. "We hadn’t yet caught our five-fish limit today when I put the penny on the bow of the boat and then we caught four fish in a row."

Most of the 159 teams found lots of fish during two days of practice, but conditions made tough by the lake’s nearly 15-foot deficit worsened during the two tournament days. It got tougher on the final day when banks of thick fog kept most anglers at bay, although those with GPS systems were able to return to their favorite spots.

Finishing second were Mike Davis and Van Schwendimann of the Northwest Alabama Division just 1.04 pounds behind the winners at 24.06 pounds. They won a fully rigged Bass Cat Sabre boat valued at $26,000.

Two South Carolina Division teams claimed third and fourth places.

Grady Howard and James Satterwhite were third with 21.70 pounds and split $5,000 in cash. Bobby Wayne Gaston and Chris Heath were third going into the final round, but finished fourth and won $2,500.

Alfred Williams, just retired from the U.S. Postal Service, finished in a fifth-place tie all by himself, a condition forced by the inability of his brother and teammate, Ed, to get off work. "That really hurt because Ed is always good for a 3-pounder," said Williams, who weighed in 20.58 pounds and won $1,750.

Steve Johnson and Tim Chandler of the Northwest Alabama Division also won $1,750 for their 20.58-pound catch.

A couple of Augusta area anglers — Gene Tant of Evans, Ga., and Keith Williamson of Lincolnton, Ga. — finished seventh with 19.28 pounds and won $1,250. They represented the South Carolina Division.

In eighth were Todd Ratcliff and Robby Miles of East Mississippi with 17.64 and $1,000. Ninth were South Carolina Division Anglers of the Year Bart Blackburn of North Augusta, S.C., and Joe Ludwig of Dearing, Ga.., fulfilling a pre-tournament goal of a top 10 finish and winning $900.

Rounding out the top 10 were Tony Baker and Gene Roberts of the Northwest Alabama Division with 16.64 pounds and $800.

The weigh-ins were held at Mistletoe State Park. Some anglers launched their boats from a temporary ramp constructed by park manager Bill Tinley, while the others had the option of launching at other sites.

The tournament was cosponsored by the Greater Augusta Sports Council and the Thomson-McDuffie Tourism Board.