Cornwell Tops Lowery In Eliminator Series Semis At Clarks Hill

Mark Cornwell, of Lawrenceville, advanced to the 2009 Skeeter Eliminator Series finals with a heads-up victory over David Lowery at Clarks Hill. On a tough day, Mark managed three quality keepers that weighed 7.37 pounds.

Mark Cornwell was just a tad late signing up for this year’s Skeeter Eliminator Series, so instead of making the field he was the first alternate. Just one day before the first event at Lake Sinclair, an angler had to drop out, and Mark took his place in the heads-up bracket. Now, with a win over David Lowery at Clarks Hill yesterday (May 5), Mark has secured a spot in the Eliminator finals and a shot at $5,000.

Mark caught three quality keepers from schooling bass on main-lake and secondary points in the Bussey Point area of Little River. The schooling bite on a cloudy, mostly still day was tougher than it had been in past days, and both Mark and David had to wade through linesides to get a few keeper largemouths.

Mark’s three bass weighed 7.37 pounds and included a 3.17-pounder that takes over the lead for the Big Fish award for the semis and finals, which could be worth an additional $350.

David managed two keepers that weighed 4.53 pounds.

Mark’s path to the finals has included heads-up wins over Jim Windham and Buster Slocumb at Lake Sinclair, and a win over former Eliminator Elite 8 angler Mark Fortner at Lake Oconee. Mark won a $130 Big Fish award for Round 2.

Mark will compete heads-up at Lake Lanier next month against John Allen, who won his semi-final match-up at West Point.

David Lowery made it to the semi-finals of the Eliminator Series two years in a row, but David will miss the finals after a loss at Clarks Hill.