Bass Fishing 4/28/2019 8:35:00 AM CU Athletics

Nick Ratliff sat in Top 20 after Day 1 but falls to 76th in fourth Bassmaster tournament

JASPER, Ala. — After sitting in 20^thplace with a 13-pound 1-ounce bag on Day 1, Campbellsville University's Nick Ratliff fell off the pace to finish in 76^that the Bassmaster Central Open at Smith Lake.

Ratliff, the lone college angler in the field, was a little over four pounds from the lead after the opening round behind Jordan Wiggins' 17 pounds 8 ounces. The top 12 anglers reached the final cut on Day 3 and Ratliff was behind out of the cut line by five and a half pounds with 19-3 overall after only hauling in four fish at 6 pounds 12 ounces.

In his three opens thus far, Ratliff finished 128^that Harris Chain of Lakes, 61^stat Toledo Bend, 41^stat the Bassmaster Classic and now 76^that Smith Lake.

The $63,000 cash purse was divided between the winners, with $37,000 for the top pro and $18,000 for the co-angler. Caleb Kuphall took the big prize money home and earned a berth in in the 2020 Bassmaster Classic, should he fish the remaining two Central Opens. He finished with a total of 43 pounds and 3 ounces.

Jonathon Barnette of Jasper won the co-angler division after leading all three days. He caught a winning weight of 23-13 and won $18,000.

Ratliff's Bassmaster Open schedule now heads to Lake Chickamauga in Tennessee for 2019 Bass Pro Shops Eastern Open set for May 23-25.

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Players Mentioned

Nick Ratliff: Senior; Vine Grove, Ky.

Players Mentioned

Nick Ratliff
: Senior; Vine Grove, Ky.