KJ Queen won’t turn 25 years old until August 21st. He is the youngest angler on the Bassmaster Elite Series. It would seem fitting if the youngest guy on tour wins the Rookie of the Year title. Queen is leading going into this final event of the season, but Bryan New is only 24 points behind and Matt Robertson is 27 points back.
As New noted this morning, “You only get one chance to win Rookie of the Year.”
“It would be tremendous, a dream I’ve been striving for all year,” Queen said. “I’m definitely going up against some competition. I’ve got Bryan New and Matt Robertson on my tail. I can’t slip up because I know they’re going to catch ‘em.”
This is a strong rookie class. Five rookies are within the Bassmaster Classic cut going into this final event. The cutline for the Classic is currently 39, but will likely extend further down the standings when double qualifiers, etc., are finalized. Currently in the AOY standings Queen is 19th, New is 25th, Robertson is 27th, Justin Hamner is 31st and Josh Stracner is 35th. Just outside the cut is another rookie, Marc Frazier in 43rd.