Pernice holds slender lead

Pernice: Late birdie

Leaderboard:
-10 T Pernice
-9 S Stricker
-8 J Overton
-8 N O'Hern (Aus)
-8 T Armour III

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Tom Pernice Jr will take a one stroke lead into the final round of the AT&T National at Congressional after shooting a 69 on Saturday.

The 45-year-old, searching for a first victory on tour in seven years, allowed the pack to close with a round of one under par but retained the advantage late on with just his second birdie of the round at the penultimate hole.

Pernice had started the day in a tie with Jeff Overton, with the pair three clear of the chasers, but the latter was one of only two players in the top 20 to shoot over par, although he remains in the hunt on eight under par, two off the the pace.

"I gave myself chances," said Pernice, who missed only three greens in regulation but failed to convert several birdie opportunities. "And going forward, that's what you need to do.

"The last 12 or 13 holes, I hit the ball really nice and gave myself a lot of opportunities, but just didn't hole any of the putts.

"My speed was a little bit off, which caused me to miss some. But all in all, I'm very happy."

Steve Stricker made the biggest move on Saturday, carding a 66 to move into clear second although a dropped shot at the 17th saw him fall out of the lead he had held since making his sixth birdie of the day two holes earlier.

"I didn't get into a whole lot of trouble," said Stricker, runner up here a year ago. "I played the tough holes well again today, which I think is a key around here.

"I just wanted to give myself an opportunity for tomorrow, which I did."

A resurgent Tommy Armour III bogeyed the final hole but is two back following a 66 alongside Australian Nick O'Hern, who carded a blemish-free 67, and Overton, who birdied two of the last three holes to give himself a chance on Sunday after double-bogeying the 15th.

Americans Tim Herron, Anthony Kim and Cliff Kresge are all in sight of the lead on seven under par, with Dean Wilson and Robert Allenby a further shot behind.