The 52nd Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk at Lake Hartwell drew a record 154,932 fans to Lake Hartwell and various event venues in Greenville, tournament owner B.A.S.S. announced March 6.
Jason Christie, of Park Hill, Oklahoma, won the three-day tournament with a total weight of 54 pounds — just five ounces better than second place finisher Kyle Welcher.
The win brings with it a $300,000 purse and puts Christie’s career B.A.S.S. earnings at about $1.7 million.
“Honestly, when I was sitting at the door waiting to come in and weigh my fish, I thought I had given it away again,” Christie, who has a pair of second-place finishes to his credit, told B.A.S.S senior writer Bryan Brasher. “I knew it was gonna be close. I honestly thought there could be a tie, and that was scary for me because I didn’t have any fish left.”
Top 3 finishers:
Jason Christie, Park Hill, Oklahoma ($300,000)
Kyle Welcher, Opelika, Alabama ($50,000)
Stetson Blaylock, Benton, Arkansas ($47,000)
Courtesy https://greenvillejournal.com/