Clearly this is Mark Daniels Jr.’s tournament to win. He’s got a 6-pounds-plus lead over his three closest competitors. Based on the old formula – if the lead (6 pounds, 5 ounces over second-place Boyd Duckett) is greater than the big bass of the tournament (5 pounds, 6 ounces by Fred Roumbanis on Day 2), the leader won’t be surpassed on the final day. But that’s a general observation, more than a mathematical fact.
The hope for the rest of today’s Top 12 final is the example of Clifford Pirch, who started this event in 87th place on Day 1 (7-10) and moved to 18th on Day 2 (18-4) and sixth on Day 3 (19-9).
It’s possible to make a big move in the standings here, even though only two 20-pound bags and two 19-pound bags have been caught in the previous three days. But Daniels must suffer through a Day 1 like Pirch did for anyone to surpass him. If Daniels catches 15 pounds today, he’ll almost certainly win his first Elite Series title.