Marine
Mercury Pro Kenyon Hill wins the Bassmaster Elite Series Pride of Georgia
Evans, Ga. (May 5, 2008) – Mercury professional angler Kenyon Hill won the Bassmaster Elite Series Pride of Georgia tournament in Evans, Ga., Sunday with a four-day combined weight of 68 pounds.
Hill, 43, who entered the final day in second place, caught a five-bass limit weighing 18 pounds, two ounces Sunday to claim the $100,000 first-place check on the Clarks Hill Lake.
Ironically, the rest of the 12-man field struggled Sunday; sunny skies and no wind made bass fishing extremely tough.
Hill also tied for the tournament's biggest bass on Sunday, reeling in a 7 pound, 1 ounce bass to match the previous big bass of the tournament caught by fellow Mercury pro Dave Smith.
Eight of the top 12 finishers at the Pride of Georgia were powered by Mercury engines. Hill was followed by Mercury teammates Edwin Evers, third, 57 pounds, one ounce; Kevin VanDam, fourth, 55 pounds, one ounce; Casey Ashley, fifth, 54 pounds, 10 ounces; Timmy Horton, sixth, 54 pounds, two ounces; Peter Thliveros, eighth, 53 pounds, 11 ounces; Skeet Reese, ninth, 53 pounds, six ounces; and Smith, 12th, 48 pounds, nine ounces.
For the first time in Bassmaster history, pro anglers in 2008 can fish from their own boats and with their own engines in all Bassmaster tournaments.
The Pride of Georgia is the fifth of 11 events in the 2008 Bassmaster Elite Series, considered the most visible and prominent tournament trail in the world.
The next Bassmaster Elite Series event – Carolina Clash – is slated for May 15-18 on Lake Murray in Columbia, S.C.
Mercury Marine is an official engine sponsor of BASS.
About Mercury Marine
Mercury Marine is the world's leading manufacturer of recreational marine propulsion engines. A $2.3 billion division of Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC), Mercury and its 6,200 employees worldwide provide engines, boats, services and parts for recreational, commercial and government marine applications. Mercury's industry-leading brand portfolio includes Mercury and Mariner outboard engines; Mercury MerCruiser sterndrives and inboard engines; MotorGuide trolling motors; Mercury and Teignbridge propellers; MotoTron electronic controls; Mercury inflatable boats; Mercury SmartCraft electronics; and Mercury and Quicksilver parts and oils. In 2008, Mercury Marine's OptiMax engine was ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Two-Stroke Outboard Engines" by J.D. Power and Associates for the third consecutive year. More information is available at mercurymarine.com.
CONTACT: Abigail Walker
Manager – Internal & External Communications
Mercury Marine
Phone: 920-924-1360
Email: abigail.walker@mercmarine.com
