SENECA — Gentry Gordy, 22, of Salem, Ala., is holding a narrow 3.6 pound lead heading into the final round of the National Bass Tournament National Championship on Lake Keowee.

Gordy leaped over first day leader Richard Cobb of Richmond, Ky., with the biggest five-fish string of the three-day tournament which tipped the scales at 10.90 pounds.

Top prize of $5,500 will be on the line when the anglers hit the 18,500 acre crystal clear lake Friday morning. Weigh-in begins at 2:45 p.m. at South Cove Park.

Cobb brought four fish to the scales Thursday. The 21-year-old former country club server who now fishes competitively full time said he lost a four-pounder when it ran under the boat.

Brad Vice, 15, of Hartselle, Ala., held the lead in the junior division for the second day and has a four-pound edge over Brad Rutherford heading into the finals.

The juniors are fishing for $1,000 in first place money.

Wayne Hale of Berea, Ky., boated the second day’s big fish, a 6.11 pound largemouth that earned him $250. The fish is also the biggest of the tournament.

David Lowrie of Palmer, Tenn., over came some trolling motor problems and was able to fish with his son Hank, 11.

“I can’t say enough about the folks at Palmetto Marine and Portronics,” Lowrie said. “They came and fixed the trolling motor and I could not have been treated better. I got to fish with Hank and that’s what this is all about.”

The National Bass Tournament trail focuses on adults taking youngsters fishing. Junior anglers are 17-years-old and younger.

“We have about 400 members and would love to start a district in South Carolina,” said Mike Raney, president of the National Bass Tournament organization.

Next year’s NBT National tournament will be on Lake Wheeler in northern Alabama and anyone interested in organizing a NBT district in the area can contact Raney at (256) 762-1152.