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Pernice leads AT&T National by one

Sat 5th, July 2008

Bethesda, MD (Sports Network) - Tom Pernice managed just a one-under 69 on Saturday, but it was enough to maintain the lead after three rounds of the AT&T National.

Pernice, who shared the second-round lead with Jeff Overton, completed 54 holes at 10-under-par 200, which is a new 54-hole tournament record at this second-year event. K.J. Choi set the old mark of 201 last year.

Steve Stricker, who won the Barclays last year, is alone in second at minus- nine after posting a four-under 66 in the third round.

Overton tripped to a one-over 71 and slid into a share of third at eight- under-par 202. He stands alongside Tommy Armour III (66) and Nick O'Hern (67).

Pernice opened with five straight pars to fall one behind Overton, who birdied the third to get to 10-under. Pernice missed the green at the sixth and that led to a bogey that dropped him two back.

The 48-year-old recovered that lost stroke with a 13-foot birdie putt at the eighth. He still trailed by one at the point, but the back nine at Congressional proved to the difference on this day.

Pernice parred seven straight holes from the ninth. At different points during that stretch, he was either tied for the lead or trailed by one.

His approach at the par-four 17th stopped within three feet and he kicked in the birdie putt to move to 10-under.

Pernice got up and down for par at the last to take the 54-hole lead for the fifth time in his tour career.

"I had a lot of chances from 10 to 15 feet today and some of them were above the pins and were tough putts and you need a few of those to go in to get some momentum," said Pernice. "I'd like to capitalize on my good shots tomorrow and see what happens."

Pernice is 1-3 in the previous four events in which he held the 54-hole lead. His win came the first time he was the 54-hole leader, which was at the 2001 International.

Another factor on Saturday was Pernice's left hip.

"It's just bothers me while walking, it doesn't effect anything in the shot," Pernice explained. "Walking the hills hurts a little bit. I'm going to head to the physio trailer and get some ice on it. I'll be ready tomorrow though."

Stricker birdied three of the first seven holes, but a bogey at the ninth left him three back at the turn.

At the par-three 10th and par-three 13th, his tee shots stopped two feet from the cup and Stricker kicked in both birdie efforts to grab a piece of the lead at minus-nine.

Stricker drained a 21-footer for birdie at 15 to take the lead at 10-under, but he gave that shot back at the 17th after missing the green with his approach shot. He parred the last to end one back.

"I like this whole area. I got my first win over at TPC Avenel, which is just around the corner. I enjoy coming here," said Stricker. "I like Congressional and I've been playing well."

Overton had two birdies and two bogeys over his first 10 holes, but was still in the lead. He fell out of the top spot with a bogey on the 14th and a double-bogey on 15. However, he fought back with birdies at 16 and 17 to end two behind Pernice.

"I was hitting the driver phenomenal early. Then there at the end, I was a few shots back after messing up a little bit and I just decided to hammer the driver and it worked. It got me right back in there," Overton said.

Tim Herron fired a five-under 65 Saturday to move into a share of sixth place at seven-under-par 203. He was joined there by Cliff Kresge and Anthony Kim.

Robert Allenby (67) and Dean Wilson (65) are one back at minus-six.

Where the players come to play and STAY.