Pernice shares AT&T lead

Pernice: Eight birdies

Leaderboard:
-9 J Overton
-9 T Pernice
-6 A Kim
-6 C Kresge

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Tom Pernice fired a seven-under-par 63 to claim a share of the lead at the halfway stage of the AT&T National at Congressional.

The veteran American carded eight birdies and a solitary bogey to join compatriot Jeff Overton at the top of the leaderboard at nine under, three clear of the chasing pack.

"I've been playing well and you never know when a round like this is going to jump up," said Pernice. "I'm thrilled at my position.

"Shooting a 63, seven-under-par around this golf course is pretty special."

Overton added a blemish-free 65 to Thursday's 66 to keep him in line for a first PGA tour title, but even a high finish will go a long way towards retaining his card for another year.

"The three fairways I missed, I birdied all three of them," said Overton, who is down in 164th in the FedEx Cup after making just eight cuts in 18 starts this year.

"Anytime you do that, you're going to be doing pretty good."

Anthony Kim and Cliff Kresge lead the chasers on six under par, Kim claiming a second successive 67 while Kresge climbed the leaderboard with a 65.

A bunch of players lie a shot further back including first round leader Steve Marino, who slipped back with a level-par 70, Australians Rod Pampling and Nick O'Hern, plus Steve Stricker, who drained seven birdies in a 64.

Rain caused a delay of more than an hour and a half but the round was completed just before darkness descended, with the cut coming at three over - too low for Masters champion Trevor Immelman and former Augusta winner Mike Weir, who both have the weekend off.