$8,000 SIC Brenner Memorial Bass Tournament is June 1

The Rodney J. Brenner Memorial Buddy Bass Tournament, sponsored by the Southeastern Illinois College Foundation, will be held on the Ohio River’s Smithland Pool on Saturday, June 1.

The five-fish limit tournament will have an $8,000 guaranteed payout for the $150 entry fee, which includes team entry, big bass contest, and release boat fee.  Cash prizes will be awarded to the top five teams: $3,250 for first; $2,250 for second; $1,250 for third; $750 for fourth; and $500 for fifth.  The Big Bass contest will pay three places: 60 percent payout for first, 30 percent for second, and 10 percent for third.

Release and weigh-in will be at the Golconda Marina on the Ohio River. Boats will depart at safe light on Saturday morning, June 1, and will return for weigh-in at 3 p.m. Weigh-in will be conducted by US Anglers Choice.

A pre-tournament meeting will be held on Friday, May 31, at 6:30 p.m. at the Sweetwater Saloon, Main Street, Golconda.

Sponsors this year include All In One Real Estate Company (Elite Sponsor); Morello’s Restaurant & Catering (Master Sponsor); Taylor Eye Care (Master Sponsor); Bank of Marion (Angler Sponsor); Williams & Associates Insurance; (Angler Sponsor); and Banterra Bank (Angler Sponsor).  Other sponsors include Bar-B-Q Barn, Oasis on the Ohio Golconda Marina, Sam-Son’s Skirts and Lures, and Golconda Lockmaster Homes. Again this year, Dunn’s Sporting Goods has donated an Abu Garcia rod and reel that will be raffled at the pre-tournament meeting.

The SIC Brenner Memorial Bass Tournament was established in remembrance of Mr. Rodney J. Brenner to raise funds for scholarships to provide to incoming SIC students from the college district. He was a charter member of the Southeastern Illinois College Board of Trustees and was instrumental in pursuing Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) funding for the development of the Golconda Marina. 

Brenner was editor of the Herald-Enterprise in Golconda, served on IDNR’s advisory board for a number of years, and actively promoted tourism and economic development in Pope County and Southern Illinois.

For information and tournament entry forms, call 618-252-5400, ext. 2482, or visit www.sic.edu/basstourney.

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