BETHESDA, Md. — Tom Pernice Jr. was easy to ignore yesterday in the AT&T National until he wound up in the lead.

All he did was make 15 pars on an explosive afternoon of birdies and bogeys at Congressional, and his lone complaint was that he made only two putts longer than his shadow. One was from 4 1/2 feet for par, another from 7 feet for birdie.

But it was that steady hand that gave him a 1-under 69 and a one-shot lead over Steve Stricker, leaving the 48-year-old Pernice optimistic about winning for the first time in seven years.

"It will be interesting to see how it goes tomorrow," Pernice said. "But I'm looking forward to it."

There were plenty of fireworks on a calm, muggy afternoon that led to so many possibilities until Pernice got up-and-down from just short of the 18th green to finish at 10-under 200.

Stricker is worried about where his tee shots are going, but he made his only two bogeys from the middle of the fairway and made a birdie on the 218-yard 10th hole for the third straight day.

Jeff Overton, the co-leader with Pernice going into the third round, made back-to-back double bogeys by coming up short on the 14th hole and going over the hill on the 15th hole, then answered with consecutive birdies to get back in the game.

"I had it right there in the palm of my hand and just didn't quite squeeze it," said Overton, who shot 71 and was at 202 along with Tommy Armour III (66) and Nick O'Hern (67), the left-handed Aussie best known for beating Tiger Woods twice in match play.

Anthony Kim was entertaining as ever, going six holes without a par in the middle of his round.

One minute, the 23-year-old with enormous talent was firing away at flags and making birdies to get within one shot of the lead. Then came consecutive bogeys, one from a bunker and another from driving into knee-high grass of a hazard, and he disappeared. Kim birdied the last hole with a wedge that spun back by the cup and shot 69.

He was at 203 with Tim Herron (65) and Cliff Kresge, who bogeyed the last hole for a 69.

Hawai'i's Dean Wilson, a Castle High alum, fired a 5-under 65 and was another shot back at 204. Parker McLachlin, a Punahou alum, shot a 70 and was tied with eight others at 207.

CHAMPIONS TOUR

ROMERO TAKES LEAD IN DICK'S SPORTING GOODS

ENDICOTT, N.Y. — Playing in the final group with crowd favorite Joey Sindelar on his home turf can be daunting, especially when he's playing well. Eduardo Romero never wilted.

Romero watched Sindelar hole an amazing eagle shot at the turn yesterday, then made four birdies on the back nine to finish his second straight 7-under 65 and take a one-shot lead over Sindelar (65) and Fulton Allem (65) into the final round of the Dick's Sporting Goods Open.

"It's difficult. It's a little pressure," Romero said after escaping with the lead at 14-under 130.

"I think the key is the putter," said Romero, who switched to a long putter midway through the Senior PGA Championship at Oak Hill in May. "Putts from 10 to 15 feet, it (birdie) is always on my mind."

Romero needed 27 putts to complete the round and has hit 21 of 28 fairways and 29 of 36 greens in regulation over the narrow, tree-lined En-Joie Golf Club course.

Joe 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 134 with Ronnie Black (68).

LPGA TOUR

LEE IN CLUBHOUSE WITH LEAD IN NW ARKANSAS

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 yesterday 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 at Pinnacle Country Club. Meena Lee shot a 65 in the second round to finish the day at 12 under. She was tied for the lead with Eun-Hee Ji, who had two holes remaining in her second round.

About half the field was still on the course when play was suspended last night because of darkness. The tournament has been delayed twice by bad weather.

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, but she eventually reached 11 under with two holes left.

EUROPEAN PGA

FISHER OPENS THREE-SHOT LEAD IN EUROPEAN OPEN

ASH, England — Ross Fisher birdied the last hole to take a three-stroke lead yesterday after the third round of the European Open.

The Englishman's 6-footer for birdie completed a 3-under 69 for a 54-hole total of 200.

Graeme McDowell shot a 71 for 203, including a bogey at the last hole.