Fellow Oklahomans Edwin Evers and Kenyon Hill maintained their first and second-place standings after Saturday's third round of the Bassmaster Elite Series "Pride of Georgia" tournament.

Evers, who landed a 6-pound, 7-ounce bass within 15 minutes Friday morning, had a similar experience Saturday.

"In the first 10 minutes I caught a little one and, on the very next cast, I caught a 5-pound, 14-ounce," he said, adding that he was fishing barely 50 yards from the previous morning.

The lunker gave Evers a 17-pound, 3-ounce total on Saturday and a three-day weight of 51 pounds, 1 ounce, good for first place heading into today's final round.

Hill was in second with an 18-pound, 1-ounce bag and a three-day total of 49 pounds, 14 ounces.

"Today we got lucky," Hill said after his weigh-in at Wildwood Park. "I caught six in about 15 minutes. There was a lot of hootin' and hollerin'."

Third place belongs to South Carolina pro Davy Hite, who won the event in 2006 and was optimistic about weather conditions for today's final round.

"I fished for big fish all day and got a couple really good bites," Hite said.

"Nothing would be better than to win this thing twice in three years."

Saturday's round narrowed the pro field from 50 anglers to the final 12 who will compete for the $100,000 top prize. Each angler will be accompanied by a camera crew for an episode that will air at 9 a.m. May 10 on ESPN2.

The co-angler competition ended Saturday, with Alabama's Dave Elder winning the $25,000 co-angler top prize with a three-day total of 32 pounds, 2 ounces. Japan's Takuji Naruo (30 pounds, 13 ounces) was second and California's Tom Frink (29 pounds, 5 ounces) was third.

Today's activities include a performance by Cherry Dillinger at 1 p.m.; a Berkley Beginner fishing class at 2 p.m.; and a "Boat Performance with Skeeter" class daily at 2:15 p.m.

Reach Rob Pavey at 868-1222, ext. 119 or rob.pavey@augustachronicle.com.