I broke one at a show about the same way. I raped a loop around the back bar of the out of bounds trying to get a cast out of the pond. When I came forward the added resistance of the leader raped around the cross member made the rod explode between the 2ed and 3ed guide. When you are casting hard on a forward cast the rod is bent back in a nice ark. The bush you hooked made your rod bend just as if you were high sticking the rod on a fish or snag, maybe even worse as you had all of your forward momemtom going as well. I doubt there is any fault in the rod, just an accident.

Rich