The UT Martin bass anglers team* of Jordan Birch and Kevin Shorey finished in fourth place among 40 teams at the National Guard FLW College Fishing Tournament, May 2, at Santee Cooper’s John C. Land III Landing in Manning, S.C. Birch is a sophomore business management major from Drummonds, and Shorey is a junior agriculture major from Thompsons Station.
A second UT Martin team of Jonathan Garrison and Jordan Mercer finished in 27th place. Garrison and Mercer are both natural resources management majors. Garrison is from Henning, and Mercer is from Hohenwald.

The top-five finish for Birch and Shorey qualifies UT Martin to compete in the Southeastern Region Championship in November at Monroe Harbour in Sanford, Fla. Winners of the five regional championships will earn the right to compete for the college fishing national championship, April 10-12, 2010, at Ft. Loudoun-Tellico lakes east of Lenoir City near Knoxville.

Birch and Shorey weighed in with a four-fish total of 8 lbs., 10 oz. The fourth-place finish earned the team a $1,500 college scholarship and a $1,500 club scholarship. “The lake we were on this time of year should have taken 20 pounds to win,” said Shorey. “Our day didn’t turn around until about two hours to go (in the tournament).”

UT Martin’s team is in its third year of competition. More information about National Guard College Fishing is available at www.collegefishing.com.