Shaw Grigsby captured gold Saturday in the Bass Fishing finals at the ESPN Great Outdoors Games.

LAKE PLACID, N.Y. — Just as he seemed poised to three-peat or "three Pete" in the bass fishing competition of the ESPN Great Outdoor Games presented by Dodge, two-time gold medallist Peter Thliveros' hopes were spoiled by fellow Florida pro Shaw Grigsby Saturday in the finals on the Saranac Chain of Lakes.

The two Florida pros, who live 75 miles apart, traveled more than 1,300 miles to the Lake Placid venue for the third annual Great Outdoor Games only to find themselves separated by a few ounces atop the leaderboard after Friday's qualifying round.

Thliveros, a 42-year-old, three-time winner on the CITGO BASSMASTER Tournament Trail, has owned the first two seasons of this elite competition featuring 10 of the sport's most highly accomplished pros. He and Grigsby, a 46-year-old, eight-time B.A.S.S. winner, were the only two pros to lock through to Middle Saranac Lake Saturday, where they battled it out within sight of each other.

That meant Thliveros literally watched his dream of another win disappear as Grigsby caught a five-bass mixed bag of largemouths and smallmouths weighing 12 pounds, 4 ounces to take home the gold in his first appearance in the Great Outdoor Games.

"This is just tremendous - one of the highlights of my career," said Grigsby, a nine-time Classic qualifier and member of the B.A.S.S. millionaire club. "This is such a special event featuring nothing but the best guys in our sport. And it's just a thrill to be a part of the Great Outdoor Games.

"This is something I'll never forget."

Texas pro Gary Klein earned his second consecutive silver medal with 9-13, while Clark Wendlandt repeated last year's performance with a bronze-medal total of 8-12. Wendlandt and Thliveros actually tied for third, but the Texan won the tiebreaker with the largest bass (2 1/2 pounds).

Illinois amateur Ken Christ, winner of the CITGO B.A.S.S. Federation Championship, finished fifth with 6-7, followed by reigning CITGO BASSMASTERS Classic champion and ESPY award winner Kevin VanDam with 4-10.

Grigsby's success came on a Strike King Denny Brauer Flip'N Jig fished around submerged rock surrounded by milfoil.

Klein, 44, who recently qualified for his 20th Classic appearance, came to Lake Placid with the expressed goal of "bettering my finish from last year." But his best efforts in Flower Lake were rewarded with only the second-best catch on Saturday.

"I fished well and never really had a chance to win, as it turns out," said Klein, who scored on a Berkley Power Tube. "I'm never satisfied with second place, but I can't be overly disappointed because I performed well."

Wendlandt, a 36-year-old four-time Classic qualifier, was surprised that he repeated as the bronze medallist.

"I really struggled today," he said. "I caught a lot of fish, but most of them were something other than bass. I just kept pitching a Gambler at shallow wood and setting the hook all day (while) hoping it was a bass at the end of my line."

Reigning B.A.S.S. angler of the Year Davy Hite of South Carolina, former Classic winner and Angler of the Year Larry Nixon of Arkansas, three-time Angler of the Year Mark Davis of Arkansas and four-time Classic champion Rick Clunn of Missouri were eliminated during Friday's qualifying round.

Klein, Christ, VanDam, Nixon, Hite and Davis will be reunited July 25-27 for the 32nd annual CITGO BASSMASTERS Classic on Alabama's Lay Lake near Birmingham.

The Great Outdoor Games conclude Sunday with Retriever Trials, Tree Topping, Large and Small Dog Agility and Timber Team Relay.