Greenville, S.C. � With four previous major championships and more than a $1 million in career earnings, Alton Jones already had an impressive professional fishing résumé.

But the 44-year-old from Waco, Texas, finally broke through on the sport's biggest stage Sunday, winning the 38th Bassmaster Classic on Lake Hartwell.

Jones, in his 11th Classic, caught five fish weighing 13 pounds, 7 ounces to beat Cliff Pace of Petal, Miss., in total weight by more than five pounds.

Jones finished the three-day competition with a total weight (15 bass) of 49-7. Pace, fishing in his second Classic, had 44-5.

Jones, a favorite with many of the 15,000 fans that watched the final-day weigh-in at Greenville's Bi-Lo Center, won $500,000 for first place. read more