There's now a clearer picture of what it will take to earn a Bassmaster Classic berth based on Angler of the Year points, now that one Day 1 is official. Instead of the projected 480 points, it looks like 470 is the goal. Actually, it's even lower – 469. That's what Brandon Coulter has in "mythical" AOY points for the year now, and he's in 40th place – the cutoff spot for Classic berths.
Coulter's total is mythical/unofficial because it's based on where he is in the standings after Day 1, and that will probably change at the end of today. But, again, it does provide a more realistic goal.
And, most importantly, it gives many anglers some breathing room they didn't know they had when 480 points was projected as the goal. Coulter is a good example. He needed a 25th place finish to reach 480. But he's in 36th place after Day 1 and still has enough points to make the top 40 in AOY points for the year.
Roughly, you can figure that every one of the bubble boys can place 10 spots lower than previously projected and still make the Classic, I think. But I don't know. My head hurts after thinking about all these numbers.