$8,570 Awarded at SIC Brenner Memorial Bass Tourney

–Arnold and Threlkeld Take Top Prize, Fowler and Wright Catch Big Bass —

Fifty-seven boats roared out of the Golconda Marina on the Ohio River Sunday morning, May 31, to compete in the annual Rodney J. Brenner Memorial Buddy Bass Tournament sponsored by the Southeastern Illinois College Foundation. The 113 anglers headed for their favorite fishing holes in hopes of catching enough large-mouth bass to win the event’s $3,250 first prize money.

At the end of the day, Roy Arnold and Tim Threlkeld both of Golconda weighed in 13.40 pounds of fish to capture the top prize. The team of Kevin Renth of O’Fallon and Mark Mason of Collinsville took second place with their 13.38 pound catch. They took home $2,250 for their efforts.

With 13.08 pounds of fish, Carl Pickering of Harrisburg and Tom Oxford of Elizabethtown earned third place and $1,250 in prize money. Eldorado’s James Williams and Shawneetown’s Matthew Vaughn took fourth place with 12.43 pounds of bass, garnering them $750 in winnings. Finally, fifth place prize money of $500 went to the team of Melvin Jeffords III of Grantsburg and Brandon Broadway of Golconda for their 11.69 pound catch.

In the big bass competition, Matt Fowler and Nathan Wright both from Carrier Mills took home first place and a check for $342 for a 4.95 pound fish. Second place and $171 went to Jeff Fulkerson and Chad Fulkerson both of Elizabethtown with a bass weighing in at 4.58 pounds, while Jeffords and Broadway caught a 4.45 pound bass to claim third place and a check for $57.

Major sponsors of this year’s tournament were All In One Real Estate Company (Elite Sponsor); Taylor Eye Care (Master Sponsor); Chris Haas (Master Sponsor); Cherry Street Printing & Awards (Angler Sponsor); Morello’s Restaurant & Catering (Angler Sponsor); Williams & Associates Insurance; (Angler Sponsor); Banterra Bank (Angler Sponsor); and Legence Bank (Troller Sponsor). Other sponsors included Oasis on the Ohio Golconda Marina, US Angler’s Choice, Golconda Lockmaster Homes, Dunn’s Sporting Goods, Sweetwater Saloon and the Herald-Enterprise.

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

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