Here’s an updated look at the anglers already qualified for this year’s Forrest Wood Cup, which will play out over three days (Aug. 11-13) at Lake Murray in Columbia, S.C.
Two more berths will be awarded next week as the College Fishing champion and BFL All-American champion are determined in events slated for the Tennessee River. A field of 53 professionals (no co-anglers) will compete at the Cup this year.
Additionally, the balance of the Cup field will be filled via this year’s FLW Tour points standings. The final FLW Tour event is the Potomac River on June 15-18 and the top 35 anglers who aren’t already qualified will punch their ticket to the Cup.
There will be at least two double-qualifiers and as many as five based on the current points standings, meaning competitors hovering around 40th place in FLW Tour points have a lot to gain or lose at the Potomac.
2017 Forrest Wood Cup field
(* denotes potential double qualifier based on current standings)
2016 FLW Tour Angler of the Year
> Andy Morgan* (2nd in points)
2016 Forrest Wood Cup champion
> John Cox* (27th in points)
2016 Norris Lake FLW Tour Invitational winner
>James Watson
2016 Lake Norman FLW Tour Invitational winner
> Bryan Thrift* (1st in points)
2016 FLW Series championship qualifiers
> Pat Fisher (Southeastern)
> Cody Bird (Southwestern)
> Greg Bohannan (Central)
> Joel Richardson (Northern)
> Roy Hawk (Western)
> Hyo chul Kim (International)
> Zack Birge* (37th in points)
> Christopher Jones
> Travis Fox
> Jeremy Lawyer* (36th in points)
> Bradford Beavers
2017 TBF National Championship winner
> Allen Boyd
2017 BFL All-American winner
> TBA (June 1-3, Pickwick Lake – Florence, Ala.)
2017 FLW College champion
> TBA (May 31-June 3, Pickwick and Wilson lakes – Rogersville, Ala. & Florence, Ala.)
Top 35 in 2017 FLW Tour points
> TBA (regular season ends at Potomac River – June 15-18)
