Randolph's Landing
holds two of the major catfish tournaments that are held on the Santee-Cooper Lakes systems every year. These two tournaments are the State Championship Tournament held in March and The National Championship which is held in September. The 2007 State Championship was held March 24th & 25th.

MYRTLE BEACH ANGLER WINS BIG FISH  AT RANDOLPH'S LANDING 2007 STATE CHAMPIONSHIP CATFISH TOURNAMENT

Randolph's Landing, Owner, Nick Lucas (left) awards 1st Place Big Fish Trophy to Scott McIntyre ( middle) and Ron McIntyre of Myrtle Beach, S.C.

Randolph's Landing, Manning, S.C. March 25, 2007- Randolph's Landing's Nick and Lena Lucas, held their 2007 State Championship Catfish Tournament, March 24 & 25th.  Anglers came from as far away as New York, Ohio, Maryland, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina and Florida. Over 90 teams pre-registered with 87 teams blasting off AT 7:30 A.M. for the spring tournament. The weather was warm with temperatures reaching into the 80's Saturday afternoon and mild winds. The warming water temperatures were 68 F-69 F degrees and the lake was colored with thick yellow pollen.

The Tackle Shop opened at 5 a.m. to accommodate the fishermen. Randolph's Restaurant served hungry appetites favorites opening up before sunrise. "Chop Chop" cooked up a fabulous pork bbq with cole slaw that many enjoyed.

For the first time the State Championship was a Cabela's KING KAT Qualifier. This means the 1st & 2nd Total Weight place winners qualified  for The Cabela's KING KAT Classic to be held on Milford Lake, Milford, Kansas on Sept. 7 & 8, 2007.  In the case that the 1st or 2nd Place team Total Weight Winners had already qualified the opportunity would go to the next winning team. The winning anglers qualifying from Randolph's were the team of Mike Walden from Marshville, NC and the team of Joe Tatum from Pineville, SC. They will be fishing for a guaranteed purse of $60,000 in cash and prizes paid to 10% of the field. 1st Place will take home a  Polar Kraft 2096 w/ Suzuki 90hp 4-Stroke, Minn Kota Trolling Motor, Humminbird Locator - Valued over $22,000 +$2,000 Cash. 2nd Place will receive a Polar Kraft 2096 w/ Suzuki 90hp 4-Stroke, Minn Kota Trolling Motor, Humminbird Locator - Valued over $22,000. The Big Cat Award of $1,000 in cash and prizes will go to the largest fish of the Cabela’s Classic. An Awards Banquet will be held Saturday night FREE to all participants. In the event the Classic Field is over 120 boats, payback will increase accordingly. (Example: A 200 boat field will raise the purse to $75,000.00 in cash and prizes. For complete information visit http://www.kingkatusa.com .

There was 100% Cash Payback in The Top Ten Places in 2 categories- Big Fish & Total Weight.

       

And the winners are:

1st Place BF~ Scott McIntyre and Ron McIntyre of Myrtle Beach, SC weighed in their winning 46.7 lb flathead catfish at 6 a.m. Sunday morning. They took home $1740 for their Biggest Fish. Also for The Big Fish Pot they took 1st Place winning $1260! Not a bad day of fishing!

 

2nd Place- BF Team of Alad Hayes., Mark Hamilton, Marshall Hamilton, and Raymond McCarthy.  Hayes 44.7 lb flathead held the lead Saturday until Scot & Ron McIntyre weighed in Sunday morning, They took home $870.

 

3rd Place Big Fish Team of Tracey Setzer, Omar Edward, and Chris Setzer from Claremont, NC won $652 with a 43.5 blue.

 

4th Place Big Fish was caught by Mike Walden of Marshville NC weighing in at 40.0 and winning $435.

 

5th Place Big Fish-  Team of Ed Morgan and Chris Bryant of Rentz, Ga. This team also caught the 1st fish of the tournament  at 8:30 a.m. out of Red Bank using cut bait. At 9:07 a.m. Sat. morning, they weighed in  a  39.6 catfish winning $217.

 

6th Place Big Fish -Team of Wallace Peake from Blythewood, SC weighed in a 38.9 fish.

 

7th Place Big Fish was 38.5 lbs. caught by the team of Brandon Barnett and Mark Smith, from Greensboro, NC.

 

8th Place Big Fish was 37.9 caught by Tony Hall from Waco, Kentucky winning $87.

 

9th Place Big Fish - 37.0 caught by Mark Stanley of Chesterfield, SC took him home $87.

 

10th Place Big Fish- Team of Joe Tatum and Ronnie Owen from Pineville SC weighing in at 36.4. and winning $87. They were also The Catch & Release Big Fish Pot 10th Place Winner winning $840.                 They caught their fish using shad head.

           

                 TOTAL WEIGHT WINNERS

1st Place Total Weight was Monty Hill from Covington, Georgia (left) and Tony Hall from Waco, Kentucky (center) with a winning total weight of 169.5. They caught their fish in the lower lake using herring.

 

2nd Place Total Weight- Team of Mike Walden, Eric Rummay and Bobby Mills from NC weighed in 162.4 lbs of Santee Cooper Catfish. They caught their fish  in the deep water in the upper lake with live bait, bream and perch. They also qualified for the Cabela's KING KAT Classic.

 

3rd Place Total Weight- Team of Tracey Setzer, Omer Edwards and Chris Setzer from Claremont, NC brought in 141.4 lbs. winning $652.

 

4th Place Total Weight- Joe Tatum and Ronnie Owen from Pineville SC  weighed in 128.9 lbs. took home$435, and qualified for the Cabela's KING KAT Classic.

 

5th Place Total Weight- Wallace Peake from Blythewood, SC came in with 127.7 lbs winning $217.

 

6th Place Total Weight- Team of  Doug Coyle, Mike Sandusky and Michael Sandusky of Waco, Ky winning $87.

 

7th Place Total Weight- Ron and Scott McIntyre of Myrtle Beach, SC with 118.0 lbs. winning $87.

 

8th Place Total Weight- Team of Randy Reinheardt of Catawba, NC and Tony Hollar of Claremont, NC weighed in 116.1 lbs winning $87.

 

9th Place Total Weight- Team of Wayne Estes, Robbie McCoy, and Alan Kerley of Statesville, NC - 115.4 lbs. winning $87.

 

10th Place Total Weight -Team of Mark Stanley, Neil Stanley, James Rollins, and Jimmy Morton all from SC- 108.6 lbs. winning $87.

"I would like to thank everyone for coming," said Nick Lucas. "This was a great tournament. We had really good weather. I would like to thank all of our sponsors and those businesses that supported the tournament. The 2007 State Championship Catfish Tournament sponsors are: C. J. 's Marine, LCCR Welding, Captain Eddie Campbell's Fishing Guide Service http://www.scbigcats.com , Palmetto Gas, Rigby Oil, Waters Way Liquor & Market, The Nicholas Agency, Scott's Fast Break, Elloree Realty Lake Marion Properties http://www.elloreerealtylakemarionproperties.com  , Budweiser & Pepsi.

Thank you to Model~    Jasmine www.newfaces.com/jasminew from Asheville, NC to draw out the great door prizes. And to Photographer, Nick Adams of The Nicholas Agency  .

                             

Nick Admas (lft) thanks all for coming and sets tournament date for the National for Sept. 22 & 23 as Carole Hinten (center ) and Jasmine (rt) get ready to give out Door Prizes. Photo by Nick Adams The Nicholas Agency  

                                

Palmetto Gas has been a long time supporter of the State Championship Catfish Tournament. Thank you to Torey Filyaw  who gave a turkey fryer.

Thank you to Rigby Oil who gave a lucky angler a $100 Free Gas Certificate.

We appreciate C. J' s Marine, Jimmy and Connie Kelly. Jimmy made house calls on 2 boats after engine troubles and the anglers were back on the lake to finish the event.  C. J.' s also donated a pair of rod holders made by http://www.fishinwithred.com/ . These line of patented fishing rod holders are for dock fishing, fishing from shore, fishing from your boat or for fishing from sandy beaches or jagged jetties. For more information call C. J.' s at 803-478-8103.

                                      

Southern Holiday RV was there and gave away a fishing pole.

               

          Carole Hinten (lft) and Jasmine (rt) gave out the Door Prizes

                            Photos by Nick Adams The Nicholas Agency  

Thanks also goes to Ronnie Tobias of The Archery Shop & River Road Grocery who donated a Bow Case. Black River Tools gave a pair of their  latest Driftmaster design rod holders. C & J's Tradin Post, of Eutawville, donated a Brim Buster and weather break. River's Country Store of Santee supported the tournament by donating a Zebco 33 Rod n Reel as a door prize. The 260 Quick Stop gave a pound of BBQ and Hick's Inc. donated a knife set and mug assortment.

                       

                         Photos by Nick Adams The Nicholas Agency  

We were pleased to see so many releasing their fish. It's one small way of preserving our sport. Thank you to those anglers who donated their fish to the Turbeville Christian Orphanage. Some fishermen donated their fish who weren't even fishing the tournament. I'm sure they'll enjoy them and appreciate it very much.

We will be holding the National Championship September 22 & 23rd. We're please to announce that that tournament will be a Cabela's KING KAT Qualifier for their next season tournament trail. We hope to see you all there."
 

Media Contact: Carole Lee Hinten 803-492-7554 or sctraveler@sctraveler.com   www.sctraveler.com