The homefield advantage factor is virtually a part of every Elite event. Guys who have an inside track because of experience literally litter the top of the standings in most of our events.
As the event wears on, they either fade or stick to the top of the standings. Occasionally locals stumble a bit and have to make up ground in a hurry.
Fork is different, though. Not a lot of derbies are fished here. So the experience level is heightened in some ways, offset in others. But there is still as expectation based on their address. If you are from Texas, you should know something about Lake Fork.
Keith Combs and Lee Livesay are probably the two biggest hometown favorites. Both are in the top 10, both had average days by Lake Fork standards. Both are expected stick in the top of the standings.
There are others, though, whose first day performance shows us a little how things were off for Day 1.
Guys like Frank Talley who finished the day in 59th, Ray Hanselman in 60th and Brad Whatley, who lives nearby, is in 62nd.
We expect all of them to have better days today, simply because of the location they call home. They do as well.