Area Sports Notes: Harrison's Jacob Wheeler 2nd, Dayton's Michael Neal 4th in fishing tourneys

Assorted Sports Equipment on Black
Assorted Sports Equipment on Black

Harrison resident Jacob Wheeler was the runner-up Sunday in the Toyota Bassmaster Texas Fest on Lake Travis, earning $34,000 for his four-day haul of 20 fish weighing in at 64 pounds, 8 ounces. That was 3 pounds, 7 ounces lighter than the final tally for Drew Benton of Panama City, Florida, whose Sunday haul of 16-15 was 13 ounces more than Wheeler's. Benton earned $100,000, a berth in the 2019 Bassmaster Classic in Knoxville and 110 points in the angler of the year standings. Wheeler earned 109 points and is 12th with 308. Brent Chapman of Lake Quivira, Kansas is the leader at 382.

» Dayton Boat Dock operator Michael Neal finished fourth Sunday in the FLW Tour bass tournament on Kentucky Lake. Neal's four-day haul of 19 fish weighed 72 pounds, 3 ounces - his Sunday total of five weighed 23-5 - and he earned $20,000. The winner was Jason Lambert of Michie, Tennessee, who earned $100,200 after a Sunday total of 27-3 that made his overall weight - with the maximum 20 fish - a whopping 101-9. Scott Martin of Clewiston, Florida, was second at 73-9, with Josh Douglas of Isle, Minnesota, third at 72-12.

Golf

» Taylor Smith of Covington closed with a 3-under-par 69 and won the Georgia Mid-Amateur Championship at Atlanta's Piedmont Driving Club with a three-day total of 4-under 212. Three strokes back and sharing second in the Georgia State Golf Association event were former Georgia State University player Tyler Gruca (70) and Warner Robins' Stan Gann Jr. (76), who had led after each of the first two rounds. Calhoun's Mike Nance (74) tied for 28th at 224, Calhoun's Cres Dodd (79) tied for 56th at 230, Dalton's Vance Embry (81) tied for 66th at 233 and former Calhoun High School quarterback Tre Lamb (88) was 70th at 237.

Baseball

» East Tennessee State University enters the Southern Conference tournament Wednesday night against Wofford in Greenville, South Carolina, with senior outfielder and designated hitter Caleb Longley from Walker Valley High School and Cleveland State Community College batting .315 with team highs of 14 home runs, 120 total bases and 50 RBIs, along with 19 doubles, a triple and 41 runs scored. Fellow senior Hunter Parker from East Hamilton and Chattanooga State is the regular center fielder and stolen-base leader for the Buccaneers, who finished the regular season Saturday with a 27-23 record and an 11-13 conference record, and sophomore third baseman Cade Gilbert from Ringgold is batting .244 with 40 starts. Gilbert went 6-for-13 in the closing series against Wofford.

Lacrosse

» McCallie and Soddy-Daisy lost in Tennessee Scholastic Lacrosse Association finals over the weekend at Nolensville High School. McCallie fell 10-5 to Memphis University School on Saturday in the Varsity Division I final, a rematch of the 2017 title game, as MUS (15-4) won its third straight state title. Nick Jessen and Ian McCauley each scored twice for McCallie (10-4), with Eli Ensor providing the Blue Tornado's other goal. Soddy-Daisy lost 15-12 to Murfreesboro Lacrosse Club on Friday in the Club Division II final.

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