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Auburn's Jordan Lee finished sixth at the 2014 GEICO Bassmaster Classic, the best-ever finish for a collegiate qualifier. (Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com)

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - Trying to explain how he felt after placing sixth at the Bassmaster Classic in his home state, recent Auburn graduate Jordan Lee resorted to simple words.

"It's the best feeling in the world," he said Sunday after finishing with a 62 pound, 1 ounce total to post the best-ever finish by a college qualifier in Classic history.

Despite being the only collegiate in the field of 55, Lee fished like a seasoned professional. His strategy as the tournament went along proved that he is wise beyond his 22 years.

Lee had a difficult first day, finishing with a 13 pound, 7 ounce weight. The second day, though, he changed his strategy and began to see things turn around.

"I decided that I was going to checkout a different area. The water had warmed up and the fish got up in that gator grass, zero to three feet," he said. "It was shallow and it worked."

"When I got an 8 pounder, that told me that I needed to be there," he said.

He stuck with the same strategy and turned in good second and final days--24 pounds on Saturday and 24 pounds, 10 ounces on Sunday.

"I wish I had known what to do on that first day," he said. "I might have won this thing."

Lee said that he never felt outmatched or in awe during the tournament, despite being surrounded by so many Elite Pro anglers. In fact, he had plenty of confidence coming into the tournament.

"I felt like I could come here and have a chance to win," he said. "And then being here in our home state with family and friends supporting me, made it great."

Bassmaster Classic Final Weigh-In February 23, 2014 46 Gallery: Bassmaster Classic Final Weigh-In February 23, 2014

Lee gained an invitation to compete in the Classic after winning the Carhartt Bassmaster College Classic qualifier, following a year of intense competition at the collegiate level. He qualified for the Carhartt by working his way through divisional and regional championships.

The previous record for best-finish by a college qualifier in the Classic was 31st by Andrew Upshaw in 2012.

Now that his first Classic is under his belt, Lee will take the marketing degree he earned in December from Auburn and put it to good use.

"I think I can use it in this career," he said. "I'm now doing what I want to do."