BETHESDA, Md.—On a wild day for everyone around him, Tom Pernice Jr. kept it steady and simple Saturday for a 1-under 69 in the AT&T National that gave him a one-shot lead and a chance to win for the first time in seven years.

Pernice seized the lead, but not control, with a 7-iron that stopped just inside 3 feet at the 17th for only his second birdie on a steamy, calm afternoon that yielded plenty of low scores.

He was at 10-under 200 and was one shot ahead of Steve Stricker, the runner-up a year ago, who had a 66.

Pernice only missed three greens, but he didn’t take advantage of plenty of good birdie opportunities. The longest putt he made all day was from 7 feet at No. 8, one of his two birdies.

But instead of getting frustrated, Pernice looked at the big picture.

“I gave myself chances,” he said. “And going forward, that’s what you need to do.”

Stricker was among four players who had at least a share of the lead throughout the third round, but he hit a 7-iron over the 17th green and caught the lip with a 12-foot par putt from the fringe.

Coming off a two-week break to recharge, Stricker still isn’t confident with where his tee shots are going. Oddly enough, the two bogeys he made came from the middle of the fairway, including a wedge on the par-5 ninth that went just over the green.

“Overall, it’s two good, solid rounds that got me into a position with a chance for tomorrow,” Stricker said.

They are not alone, with 10 players separated by four shots.

Jeff Overton, tied with Pernice to start the third round, was fortunate to still have a chance. His struggles began with a tee shot into the bunker on the par-3 10th hole to take bogey, then seemingly fell apart with consecutive double bogeys that left him four shots behind.

Overton rallied with birdies on his next two holes and salvaged at 71, leaving him at 8-under 202 with Tommy Armour III (66) and Nick O’Hern (67), the left-handed Aussie best known for twice beating Tiger Woods in match play.

The wildest day belonged to 23-year-old Anthony Kim, an explosive player who saw both sides of that. Kim went six holes without a par in the middle of his round—three bogeys, three birdies—before a birdie on the 18th hole for a 69.

He was at 203, along with Tim Herron (65) and Cliff Kresge (69).

Pernice last won in 2001 at the International, the tournament that the AT&T National replaced last year. He has had at least a share of the 54-hole lead each of the last three years without winning, including a 75 in the final round at the Buick Open a year ago.



Champions Tour

ENDICOTT, N.Y.—Eduardo Romero shot his second straight 7-under 65 to take a one-shot lead over Fulton Allem (65) and crowd favorite Joey Sindelar (65) heading into the final round of the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open.

Romero, who began the day two shots behind first-round leader Joe Ozaki, had 16 birdies and one double-bogey over the two rounds and was at 14-under 130.

Ozaki (70) was alone in fourth at 11 under. Bruce Vaughan (67), the 2007 runner-up in the inaugural year of this Champions Tour event, was tied for fifth at 10-under 134 with Ronnie Black (68).



LPGA Tour

ROGERS, Ark.—Angela Park’s final putt was as impressive as her round—an uphill birdie attempt from about 25 feet that capped a 10-under 62.

Kristy McPherson wasn’t about to be outdone.

McPherson answered Park with a birdie of her own, sinking a downhill putt from the fringe, about 20 feet from the hole. The two playing partners were within a stroke of the lead Saturday in the second round of the LPGA Tour’s NW Arkansas Championship.

“Obviously, everything went right today,” said Park, who equaled the lowest round on the LPGA Tour this year.

Park and McPherson were at 11 under with one round remaining in the 54-hole event at Pinnacle Country Club. Meena Lee shot a 65 in the second round to finish the day at 12 under. Several players were still on the course late Saturday afternoon in the tournament has been delayed twice by rain.

Seon Hwa Lee, who opened with a 64, didn’t start her second round until after Park and McPherson finished. Seon Hwa Lee struggled to keep pace, starting her second round with seven straight pars before a birdie on No. 8.

McPherson also finished her first round at 8 under, playing the final five holes Saturday morning. Friday’s start was pushed back about five hours because of bad weather, and rain halted play for over 90 minutes Saturday. McPherson shot a 69 in the second round, and Park caught up on the 6,238-yard course.

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

Park finished with four straight birdies and made 11 in the round. She is playing with confidence after tying for third last weekend at the U.S. Women’s Open.

“Everything just went the way I wanted, and I had nothing on my mind,” Park said. “Just one shot at a time—like any golf mentor will tell you.”

McPherson was hurt by a bogey on No. 13, a 460-yard par 5 that Park birdied.

“That one’s supposed to be the easiest hole on the golf course, isn’t it?” McPherson said.

McPherson shot a first-round 66 at this event last year and was one shot off the lead, but the tournament was called off after 18 holes because of rain. The weather has been a factor this year, too, but the delays are only part of the story. The wet course has allowed low scores.

“Because of the rain, the course overall was a lot softer today,” Meena Lee said through a translator. “It was easier to hit the iron shots today.”

Meena Lee, a two-time LPGA winner, hasn’t finished higher than 12th this year.

Jeong Jang and Jee Young Lee shot 69s in the second round and were three strokes behind the leader. Seon Hwa Lee and Eun-Hee Ji also were 9 under while still playing the second round.

Cristie Kerr moved into contention with a 65 after an even-par first round.

The tournament is sponsored by P&G Beauty and presented by John Q. Hammons.