BETHESDA, Md. — On a wild day for everyone around him, Tom Pernice Jr. kept it steady and simple Saturday for a 1-under-par 69 in the AT&T National that gave him a one-shot lead and a chance to win for the first time in seven years.
Pernice seized the lead, but not control, with a 7-iron that stopped just inside 3 feet at the 17th for only his second birdie on a steamy, calm afternoon that yielded plenty of low scores.
He was at 10-under-par 200 and was one shot ahead of Steve Stricker, the runner-up a year ago, who had a 66.
“I gave myself chances,” said Pernice, wh0 won The International in 2001. “And going forward, that’s what you need to do.”
Stricker was among four players who had at least a share of the lead throughout the third round.
Jeff Overton, who was tied with Pernice to start the third round, salvaged a 71, leaving him at 8-under 202 with Tommy Armour III (66) and Nick O’Hern (67).
• Meena Lee shot a 65 in the second round to finish at 12-under and lead the LPGA Tour’s NW Arkansas Championship in Rogers, Ark.
• Eduardo Romero made four birdies on the back nine to finish his second straight 7-under 65 and take a one-shot lead over Joey Sindelar (65) and Fulton Allem (65) into today’s final round of the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open in Endicott, N.Y.
• Ross Fisher has a three-stroke lead after the third round of the European Open in Ash, England.
Heat’s Beasley returns to contact drills
MIAMI — Michael Beasley resumed contact drills with the Miami Heat summer league team, his first activity since slightly cracking his sternum three days earlier.
• Tina Thompson scored 19 points to lead the Houston Comets to a 73-65 WNBA victory over the Sacramento Monarchs. In other action, the Indiana Fever defeated the Connecticut Sun 81-74, and the Atlanta Dream edged the Chicago Sky 91-84 for its first win after 17 losses.
Lloyd’s goal lifts U.S. in tuneup
SKELLEFTEA, Sweden — Carli Lloyd scored on a deflected shot in the 39th minute to give the United States a 1-0 victory over Sweden in a women’s Olympic tuneup.
Lloyd dribbled past three defenders inside the box, then fired a low shot that hit Sara Thunebro’s leg and past goalie Hedvig Lindahl.
Footnotes.
Former San Diego Chargers safety Terrence Kiel, 27, was killed after he was thrown from a Chevy sedan he was driving in San Diego, police said.
• Kendall Holt survived two knockdowns in the first 35 seconds, then landed a right that stopped Ricardo Torres just over a minute into the first round to capture the WBO junior welterweight championship in Las Vegas.
• Louisville wide receiver Trent Guy was shot in the back early Saturday at a nightclub. The school said it expects him to fully recover.
• Free-agent forward Matt Cooke signed a two-year contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
• In Arena Football League playoffs, the host Philadelphia Soul defeated the New York Dragons 49-48 on the last play of the game.
