California Angler Wins $1 Million on Lake Murray

Frog baits produce big payday for Bennett in FLW Forrest Wood Cup

Photo courtesy of FLW Outdoors

Michael Bennett of Lincoln, Calif. scored a million dollar payday by winning the Forrest Wood Cup at Lake Murray.

COLUMBIA -- Fishing two different plastic frog baits around shallow cover wound up being a million-dollar decision for bass pro Michael Bennett of Lincoln, Calif., who won the FLW Tour's Forrest Wood Cup on Sunday at Lake Murray.

Bennett caught four fish on Sunday's fourth and final day of competition, weighing a total of 8 pounds, 14 ounces, to fish with 24-1 and beat runner-up Dave Lefebre of Union City, Pa., by almost four pounds.

Bennett qualified first through the first two days of fishing, and with weights zero'd for the 10 finalists after Friday's second round, he crushed his competitors on Saturday with 16-3. His two-day total of 24-1 brought him the million-dollar first-prize money.

Lefebre had 6-8 on Sunday for a 19-12 total and won $100,000. He nipped Terry Bolton of Jonesboro, Ark., for second. Bolton had 19-9 and won $75,000.

Chris Baumgardner of Gastonia, took fourth with 16-9, and Kevin Vida of Clare, Mich., rounded out the top five with 15-11.