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.”
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.”
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