CELINA-After winning the first two Kevin Watson Memorial Tournaments, Ernest and Timmy Garrison and Jerry “Red” Scott teamed up to again defend their title here at Horse Creek Resort last Saturday night and continue to honor a fallen friend by helping raise scholarship money to be given to a deserving local student each year.

3-TIME WATSON WINNERS-Ernest Garrison, Timmy Garrison, and Jerry "Red" Scott won their third consecutive Watson Memorial title with just over 14 pounds.

Watson lost a battle with cancer at the age of 41 three years ago, leaving behind his wife and three young daughters. The inaugural event was held to benefit the family and the last two tournaments have been organized to forever honor Watson through the annual scholarship.

Nearly 40 anglers and several other supporters showed up over an hour before blast-off to partake in a meal prepared by Alan West, Donald Collins, Terry Meadows, Randall McClain and others, while enjoying camaraderie among themselves and remembrances of the honoree.

“A turnout like this is a testament to the character Kevin always displayed,” an organizer said at the gathering. “He was a friend to everybody and it’s great to see all these people out here supporting the cause to honor him through this scholarship.”

After enjoying the meal, participants anteed up their $25-per-person entry fee as a donation to the cause and that money, paired with other donations, will fund the honorary scholarship.

Besides featuring good will, the tournament also produced a good weigh-in from the field.

Being a fun-first, benefit-type event, some teams had three members, including the winners.

The Garrisons, along with Scott’s help,carried a hefty five-fish limit of largemouth to the scales at the 1 a.m. weigh-in to once again claim bragging rights for another year and make it three championships in a row.

Their catch weighed 14.40 pounds and was enough to hand them the championship trophies.

Second place went to Danny Stone, Brock Jones, and Jay “Netman” Halfacre. They had a mixed bag making up their limit weighing 13.48 pounds.

RUNNERS UP-Danny Stone, Brock Jones, and Jay Halfacre took second place in this year's Watson Memorial with just over 13 pounds.

Corey White and Marty Buford took third and the big fish trophy with their 4.16-pound largemouth. They took the final recognized position with a total of 13.26 pounds made up of five fish.

THIRD PLACE-Corey White and Marty Buford won the big fish award and third place in the Watson Memorial tournament with 13.26 pounds.

Fourth place went to Derrick, Eugene, and Chris Hix with a limit weighing 9.67 pounds–who, along with Harold Hix, also donated the Dale Hollow Lake-caught catfish for the dinner.

Dewayne and Alex McLerran and Kenny Dale then finished out the top five with a total of 9.56 pounds.

Organizers expressed their gratitude to all involved, including those who provided the trophies, the food preparers, donors, and others.

“It took a great team-effort to accomplish this,” they said, “and we are already looking forward to next year.”