Pernice last won in 2001 at the International, the tournament that the AT&T National replaced on the PGA Tour schedule 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. The other two tries were in Memphis in 2007 and Disney in 2006.

It took eight holes for Pernice to make his first birdie, spinning a wedge back 7 feet below the hole. He was solid the rest of the way with everything but the most important club in the bag — his putter — but allowed him the one chance he needed to take the lead because of all the activity around him.

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

Overton rallied with a birdie on the par-5 16th and, with the wind at his back, a driver over the hill onto the lower level of the 17th fairway that left him a sand wedge that he spun back to 3 feet.

Kim was perhaps the most unpredictable.

He holed a 35-foot birdie putt at No. 6, the toughest hole at Congressional, only to see his tee shot spin back off the green on the seventh for a bogey. He followed with consecutive birdies and was poised to move into the lead until taking a bogey from the bunker on No. 10, then having to get up-and-down for bogey from the thick collar of rough at No. 11 after driving into the hazard.

He made pars from there until a birdie on the final hole.

“I’ve got some positive things to look forward to,” Kim said. “Hopefully, I can keep it up.”

Stricker, meanwhile, got to 10 under with a 15-foot birdie on the 15th until missing the 17th green. He didn’t see too many similarities with last year, when Stuart Appleby lost the lead and K.J. Choi pulled ahead on the back nine of a course where the high rough made it feel like the 1997 U.S. Open again.

“The course is playing a touch easier than last year, and I think that’s reflect in the scores,” Stricker said. “There’s a lot more guys with the opportunity to win. You’re going to have to shoot a good round.”

MORE FROM GOLF

Golf Section Front

Rain shortens LPGA Tour Championship to 54 holes Westwood wins Dubai tourney, money titles Brooks, Fowler lead at Pebble Beach Peter Senior wins Champions Tour Q-school Latest golf videos Latest player news, rumors and more Tracking Tiger: News, features and more Tiger's triumphs: Recapping all Woods' wins Vote: When will Tiger win his 15th major? Vote, discuss: Best major of 2009? Golf Section Front   Add Golf headlines to your news reader: