Southern Divisional Championship day 1

 

Southern Divisional Underway on Santee Cooper Lake

Jason Hester of Haleyville, AL emerged on top of the leader board after the first day of competition, in the TBF Southern Divisional today.  Of the 84 anglers, from seven states, Jason had one of only 13 limits weighed in on Santee Cooper on Wednesday.  Jason weighed 17-06 pounds to take just over a pound lead into Thursday’s competition.  Seventy of the 84 anglers weighed in at least one fish on Day one, with a total of 518-06 pounds being brought in all together.

Tracy Hewitt of Orangeburg, SC claimed the second spot with 16-01 pounds.   Another Alabama angler, Nathan Rowe sits in third place with 15-14 pounds.  Fourth place belongs to Herman Vining, of Gilbert, SC with 15-10 pounds.  The final spot in the top five goes to Steven Phillips, of Springfield, GA with 15-09 pounds.

The biggest bas of the day on Wednesday went to Barry WardBarry Ward - KY Big Bass 7-05 with a 7-05 pound giant.

In the state to state competition, the host state of South Carolina starts off strong with 107-13 pounds.  Four pounds behind them is the state of Georgia with 103-13 pounds.  Alabama racked up 99-01 pounds to stand in third place.  Tennessee has 57-00 pounds, while North Carolina has 54-15 pounds and Kentucky has 50-00 pounds while Florida has 45-12 pounds.

At the end of competition on Friday, the highest finishing two anglers from each of the seven participating states will advance to the 2017 TBF Federation National Championship.

For full results and photos from Day 1 CLICK HERE