[NEWS]Hometown Hanselman

[News]

Hometown Hanselman

He told the weigh-in crowd that he was tired of being a bridesmaid. He'd had enough of finishing runner-up. He was ready for his time in the limelight and wanted it to happen on this stage, in Del Rio, Texas, in front of family and friends in the town where he grew up.

Finally, it happened. At the day-three weigh-in for the Rayovac FLW Series Texas Division Lake Amistad event presented by Frabill, Ray Hanselman was crowned a champion.

All that an emotional Hanselman could get out as he tried to hide his sobs was a one-line thank you when Tournament Director Ron Lappin handed him his trophy: "I want to thank everybody who's out here today."

With that, the hometown crowd exploded with applause.

Hanselman took the lead in this derby on the second day with the tournament's second-biggest stringer - 19 pounds, 6 ounces - by running almost 65 miles up the Rio Grande to a warm-water spring in the back of a spawning pocket. Getting there was a gamble that he was willing to make again today, and it paid off with a final stringer of 15-4.

Hanselman was easily the most consistent pro in the field this week due to his vast local knowledge of Lake Amistad and his willingness to go where he knew the big ones lived.

His three-day total of 50 pounds, 14 ounces bested second-place finisher Brian Ankrum by 5 1/2 pounds. Hanselman earned $33,300 for his victory.

Source: Hometown Hanselman

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