Luke Palmer takes AFTCO Bassmaster Elite on Santee Cooper by storm

CLARENDON COUNTY - The AFTCO Bassmaster Elite at Santee Cooper Lakes, hosted by the Clarendon County Chamber of Commerce, ended on Sunday with some strong winds, rain and Luke Palmer of Colgate, Oklahoma, taking the series with a four-day total of 96 pounds, 14 ounces.

Palmer started the event strong with a Day 1 limit of 21-3 that put him in 10th place and followed with a second-round bag of 23-9 that moved him up to third. After adding 26-3 on Semifinal Saturday, Palmer slammed the door on the victory with a massive limit of 25-15 on Championship Sunday. He earned his first blue trophy and the $100,000 first-place prize, besting second-place angler Mark Menendez (82-11) by a whopping margin of 14-3.

"I've been waiting a long time to hear you say that," Palmer told Bassmaster Emcee Dave Mercer after his "Elite Series Champion" announcement. "I was so close to doing it last year, to finally get it done - I wanted to break 100 pounds, but I'll take 96-14."

For additional information to the series, visit www.bassmaster.com.