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Pernice takes one-stroke lead into AT&T final round

England’s Ian Poulter plays his second shot out of the bunker on the third hole during the third round of the European Open Championship on the Heritage Course at the London Golf Club in Kent, southeast England, on Saturday. PHOTO: AFP

Tom Pernice, who has not won on the PGA Tour in seven years, shot a one-under 69 to seize a one-stroke lead over fellow American Steve Stricker at the US$6 million AT&T National.

The 48-year-old Pernice entered Saturday’s third round tied with Jeff Overton after shooting an explosive 63 on Friday. He moved to a 10-under 200 total at the Congressional Country Club course.

Pernice bogeyed the 518-yard, par-four sixth hole, but rebounded with a birdie on the eighth to sit at even-par before the turn.

Pernice’s last win on the PGA Tour was the International in 2001. He had just two top 10 finishes last year.

Despite his lack of production in recent years he knows what he has to do to seal the deal.

“I’ve got to go out there and perform better and shoot a good score to win a golf tournament,” he said. “I can’t worry about anything else. It’s just a matter of me being able to control my emotions and go out there and be able to execute and do what I need to do.”

South Korea’s Meena Lee watches a tee shot during the second round of the LPGA Arkansas Championship at the Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers, Arkansas on Saturday. Lee shot a seven-under 65. PHOTO: AFP

The 48-year-old was even until a birdie on 17 to remain in the hunt for his third career title.

Stricker came out with plenty of spark, playing his first eight holes at three-under, before a bogey on nine. He added three more birdies on the back nine — at 10, 13 and 15 — before finishing with another bogey at 17 to card a four-under 66 on Saturday.

“You know, I think the course is playing a touch easier than last year and I think that’s reflective in the scores,” Stricker said. “You know, there’s a lot more guys with the opportunity to win I think. I don’t know how we stacked up last year at all.”

Americans Overton, Tommy Armour and Australian Nick O’Hern are tied for third at eight-under 202.

“I shot 66. I hit the ball well,” Armour said. “I made some putts. That’s what you’ve got to do on this course. It’s a good test of golf and I hit a lot of good shots. I played good and putted good.”

Overton shot a one-over on Saturday. He was one-under through the front nine, but struggled after the turn with bogeys at 10 and 14, before a double-bogey on the par-four 15th.

Overton did close strongly, with birdies on two of the final three holes.

It has been a trying year for Overton, who has missed the cut in six of his last seven events and 10 of 18 tournaments overall.

Americans Tim Herron, Anthony Kim and Cliff Kresge are in a three-way tie for sixth at seven-under.



■EUROPEAN OPEN

AFP, LONDON

Ross Fisher remained on course for victory at the European Open as he stayed at the head of the field after Saturday’s third round.

The Englishman, who shot a course record first round 63 at the London Club course in Kent, southeast England, birdied the 18th hole for the second day in a row.

And with Graeme McDowell, his nearest challenger, going into the water at the last, that left Fisher with a three-stroke lead heading into the final round.

“It’s a great finishing hole from a spectator’s point of view, but a bit of a pain from a player’s point of view,” Fisher said of the last. “When I hit my drive, I was just thinking ‘please carry the water, carry the water’ and you could probably see the huge relief. I think mine may have caused Graeme to take a more aggressive line.”

Fisher’s 69 left him on 16-under.

McDowell was level with his playing partner before bogeying the 16th, but the Northern Irish golfer, three shots ahead of third-placed David Frost, the veteran South African, said: “We had a lot of fun out there, but obviously I’m disappointed with my finish. Ross kind of pull-hooked his drive and I proceeded to do the same. I’m not quite as long as him and didn’t get away with it.”

McDowell, who lies 11th on the Ryder Cup table, said: “I realize the outcomes of potential finishes tomorrow, but this is not the last chance saloon for me this weekend. There will be enough pressure on me without overly thinking about that.”

Sergio Garcia was well-placed after two rounds, but his two-over 74 on Saturday left the Spaniard nine shots adrift of Fisher, in a group including India’s Jeev Milkha Singh.

Defending champion Colin Montgomerie, who won this title at the K Club in Ireland last year, was a shot further back.

■LPGA ARKANSAS

AFP, ROGERS, Arkansas

South Korea’s Meena Lee posted a seven-under 65 to take a one-shot clubhouse lead during a rain-interrupted second round of the LPGA Arkansas Championship on Saturday.

Play was called because of darkness with 70 players still on the course late on Saturday. Play was delayed twice by rain and the second round will resume followed immediately by the final round.

Lee, who recorded five of her eight birdies on the front nine, birdied all three par-three holes on the back nine to take the lead in the 54-hole event at the Pinnacle Country Club.

“Because of the rain, the course overall was a lot softer today,” Lee said.

The former Korean Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) player of the year, Lee overcame her lone blemish — a bogey on the 16th hole — to finish at 12-under 132. Brazil’s Angela Park and Kristy McPherson of the US were tied for second.

Park equaled the lowest round on the LPGA Tour this year by posting a career-low round of 10-under 62. The 19-year-old recorded 11 birdies, including seven on the back nine.

After tying for third at the US Open last weekend, Park finished her round with four birdies to remain right on the heels of Lee.

“Obviously, everything went right today. Just one hole hiccup there,” Park said, referring to her bogey on the 12th hole. “But I’ve been hitting the ball great coming into this week. I’ve been putting very well, which was always my struggle in my game.”

McPherson mixed five birdies with two bogeys to finish three-under for the day and 11-under for the tournament.

“I didn’t play bad golf this afternoon,” McPherson said.

South Korean Ji Eun-hee was seven-under for the day and 12-under through 16 holes on Saturday when play was postponed.

South Korea’s Lee Seon-hwa, who fired a season-low 64 on Friday, was 11-under through 16 holes.
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