If Justin Lucas and Josh Bertrand were to finish second and third today, like they were after Saturday’s weigh-in, Lucas would have a 9-point lead over Bertrand in Toyota Angler of the Year points going into the AOY Championship next month. Both were in contention for the title at 12:30 p.m., so their official AOY points after today’s weigh-in aren’t likely to vary much from those unofficial ones based on the Day 3 standings.
It’s interesting to look back on their seasons and see how they’ve arrived at this point. Bertrand did it slow and steady. He hasn’t missed a Top 50 cut, and this will be his third Top 12 finish. Lucas has done it with a sprint over the last four events – all Top 12 finishes.
Lucas started the season hot, with a 6th-place finish at Lake Martin followed by a 13th at Grand Lake. Then came his Waterloo – 73rd-place at Kentucky Lake. As you can see below, Bertrand placed 6th at Kentucky Lake, creating a lead that has taken Lucas four-straight Top 12s to erase.
Tournament Bertrand Lucas
Lake Martin 20th 6th
Grand Lake 46th 13th
Kentucky Lake 6th 73rd
Lake Travis 26th 48th
Sabine River 44th 10th
Miss. River/Wis. 30th 11th
Lake Oahe 8th 9th
St. Lawrence River 1st 2nd