Skeeter owners from across the Southeast came in droves to South Carolina’s Lake Murray for the second in the company’s Owner’s Tournament Series for 2008, breaking the Lake Murray record for the largest tournament hosted from Dreher Island State Park, with 302 Skeeter boats and 613 anglers participating in the weekend competition.

Skeeter awarded $3,550 per hour for first through tenth place winners during the two-day tournament, for a total cash payout of more than $46,000, not including the thousands of dollars of prizes, cash payouts for special divisional winners and the overall winner. Roger Jernigan of Dana, North Carolina, brought in a 6.74 lb. bass, winning the angler a 2009 Skeeter ZX200 bass boat, powered by a Yamaha VZ200 outboard and an EZ Loader trailer, valued at more than $43,000. Jernigan just beat out Junior Angler Shane Cantley of Elgin, South Carolina, who weighed in a 6.72 lb. bass.

In addition to the competition, the weekend event featured entertainment, vendors, a Bassmaster Kids Casting Contest, and a Low Country Boil dinner. The Skeeter staff conducted more than 500 demo rides in several of its most popular i-Class and ZX Series bass boats, and Mike Washburn of Apoka, Florida, was the lucky random draw winner of a Yamaha Grizzly 350 4x4 ATV.

According to Daren Cole, Skeeter’s Marketing Manager, the tournament couldn’t have gone more smoothly. “Lake Murray was an excellent venue to host our Owner’s Tournament, and the success of our tournament is attributed to the support and hard work of our sponsors, vendors, staff, volunteers and owners,” says Cole. 

“Our Owner’s Tournament Series is an appreciation event, a time when we can bring the Skeeter family together for some good fun and great fishing,” Cole added. Skeeter will announce its 2009 Owner’s Tournament Series schedule within the next few months, and according to Cole, Skeeter owners will once again be pleased with the company’s selection of venues. “We encourage our owners to visit our Web site frequently for updates and announcements about our 2009 plans, but also our ongoing ‘Real Money’ tournament incentive program.”

The eight hourly winners on Saturday and two random draw anglers competed in the two-hour Skeeter Bug Shoot Out, paired with Skeeter Pro Staff anglers such as 2008 Bassmaster Classic Champion Alton Jones, Cliff Pace, Mark Menendez, Jay Yelas and Mark Davis, among others. 2008 Bassmaster Classic Runner-Up, Cliff Pace, paired with Saluda, South Carolina-native, Stan Gunter, won the Shoot Out, weighing in a limit of three fish totaling 11.68 lbs. With the victory, Gunter won a VIP trip to the 2009 Bassmaster Classic in Shreveport, Louisiana, including airfare for to two, ground transportation, four nights lodging at Sam’s Town Casino, VIP credentials, a behind the scenes tour and $500 cash.

“My fishing partner and I had a blast fishing the Skeeter Owner’s Tournament, and the company certainly knows how to treat its owners,” says Gunter. “We had a great time both on and off the water, and enjoyed seeing the pride behind each and every Skeeter owner,” says Gunter.

“Following two successful Owner’s Tournaments on J. Strom Thurmond Lake at Clarks Hill, we were unsure of how we could top that, but our owners did not disappoint, and as always, made quite an impression on our company,” says Jeff Stone. “We have the best group of owners in the industry, and it’s our goal to make sure they remain Skeeter owners for life,” says Stone.

Skeeter also awarded cash and prizes in the Junior Angler Division, Ladies Division, Super Senior Division and Longest Drive. Sixty lucky individuals won prize bags, valued at more than $300, during Skeeter’s Great Duck Hunt – a search for rubber ducks placed randomly throughout the lake. 

Skeeter owners also stepped-up for a great cause, donating 270 new toys and $500 cash for the company’s Boat Load of Toys program. The new toys were donated to the Newberry County Shrine Club, which will distribute these toys to kids at the Shriner’s Hospital of Greenville, South Carolina.

Skeeter Products, Inc. makes fishing and boating fun and rewarding with owner’s tournaments, its Real Money program, and a top-notch dealer network. Skeeter’s heritage dates back to 1948, and today it designs and manufactures innovative and high-performing bass, walleye, fish & ski and saltwater boats. Skeeter Boats is the recipient of six consecutive CSI customer satisfaction awards, and its boats are NMMA certified to meet strict U.S. Coast Guard and American Boat & Yacht Council standards. To order a catalog call (800) SKEETER, or for more information or to download an entry form for Skeeter’s Southeast Owner’s Tournament, visit w w w.skeeterboats.com.