Brown, 13, Wins Florida State Title On Harris Chain

Hamilton Brown of Plant City, a member of the Lakeland Junior Hawg Hunters club, won his age group in the Florida Bass Federation Junior State Championship on Sunday at Tavares. Brown, 13, took the trophy in the 11-14 age group. The tournament was held on three lakes on the Harris Chain - Dora, Beauclair and Carlton.

But the lakes were kept secret until the junior anglers checked in on Saturday morning.

Brown swept both overall honors and the biggest-bass prize. He boated two keeper bass, the largest at 2.60 pounds.

Kevin Elmore of Jacksonville won the 15-18 age group for the first time with a stringer weighing 9.11 pounds.

Elmore, 17, is a member of the St. Johns Junior Bass Anglers club.

Brown and Elmore both earned expense-paid trips with their families to the National Guard Junior World Championship at Columbia, S.C., in August.

The tournament, on Lake Murray, will be held in conjunction with the FLW Tour's season championship, the Forrest L. Wood Cup. Junior anglers will compete in wrapped boats piloted by FLW Tour pros.

The state championship featured 50 anglers from seven junior bass clubs, including 16 from the Junior Hawg Hunters and the Lakeland Junior Bassmasters.

The two Lakeland clubs were well-represented in the top five of both age groups.

In the 11-14 age group, John Thomas IV of the Junior Hawg Hunters finished second behind Brown.

Larz Hanselman of the Lakeland Junior Bassmasters took third place in the 15-18 age group. Cory Llewellyn and Chase Kirby of the Junior Bassmasters finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

Nick Thliveros of St. Augustine was the runner-up in the 15-18 age group. The 14-year-old is the son of Bassmaster Elite Series pro Peter Thliveros and a former state champion. He competed in the older age group because his birthday falls in July.

The biggest bass of the tournament went to Brock Walker from the Junior Bass Masters of Tallahassee with a 5 1/2-pounder.

Rene Edie of Lakeland, the Florida Bass Federation youth director, said 27 of the 50 juniors caught at least one keeper bass, and there were several five-fish limits.

Juniors were paired together and fished in boats captained by adults from parent clubs.

"The boat captains were not allowed to help the kids,'' Edie said.

Fox at Santee Cooper

Kyle Fox of Lakeland is competing in the Bassmaster Southern Open on Santee Cooper Lakes in South Carolina today through Saturday.

GPS Seminar May 29

The Lakeland Sail and Power Squadron will teach a Global Positioning System seminar on Thursday, May 29, at 7 p.m. at West Marine in Winter Haven.

The cost is $25.

Call Richard at 863-667-9047 or send an e-mail to WLITT66455@aol.com.

Squadron Class June 5

The Lakeland Sail and Power Squadron will teach its next Boat Smart course beginning June 5 in Lakeland at the McArthur Center at the Florida Presbyterian Home on Lakeside Avenue.

Classes are from 7-9 p.m.

The cost is $35 for materials.

Younger students who pass the course will receive boater identification cards, which are required for drivers between the ages of 14-22.

Insurance companies also offer discounts with proof of a safe boating course.

Call Richard at 863-667-9047 or send an e-mail to WLITT66455@aol.com.

The Squadron's home address is www.lakelandsailandpower.info.