Overton shifts into overdrive

Co-leader Pernice (63) matches course record

In an amazing turnaround, Jeff Overton shot a 5-under 65 to share the lead with Tom Pernice Jr. (HUNTER MARTIN/Getty Images)

Jeff Overton doesn't feel like a different player than the guy who couldn't make it to the weekend on the PGA Tour over the last two months. Funny how seeing the ball go in the hole changes everything.

Overton continued his one-week turnaround yesterday with a 5-under-par 65, giving him a share of the lead with Tom Pernice Jr. in the AT&T National before storms rained on the Fourth of July atmosphere at Congressional and interrupted the second round.

Overton and Pernice, who matched the course record on a soft, still day at Congressional with a 63, were at 9-under 131.

Anthony Kim, living up to his billing as the next young threat in golf, appeared poised to catch the leaders until a 1 1/2-hour storm delay slowed his momentum. A bogey on the par-5 ninth gave him a 67, three behind with Cliff Kresge (65).

Consider how quickly Overton's prospects have changed.

He hasn't finished in the top 20 all year. He had not broken par since the last week in April. He missed the cut at the Buick Open last week, his sixth weekend off in his last seven tournaments.

He stuck around Detroit for a British Open qualifier - Overton has never played in a major - and was 9 under par over two rounds to finish first in his field and earn a ticket to Royal Birkdale.

He showed up at Congressional and hasn't stopped.

"I've hit a lot of great shots the last few weeks. It's been frustrating lipping out a lot of putts," Overton said. "And on Monday, made a bunch of putts and saw the ball go in the hole a few times, and it opens the floodgates mentally."

Pernice did most of his damage around the turn, running off four straight birdies, starting with a 20-footer on the tough par-4 sixth hole that played 494 yards.

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

LPGA - South Korea's Seon Hwa Lee birdied five of her final six holes for an 8-under 64 to take a two-shot lead at the NW Arkansas Championship in Rogers, Ark.

The start was delayed about five hours, bringing back memories of last September, when the inaugural event was shortened from 54 to 18 holes because of rain.

When the first groups finally started, Stacy Lewis took center stage. The former University of Arkansas star began with birdies on Nos. 1, 3, and 4 and finished with a 69, four strokes worse than her tournament-best score a year ago. Because the event was only 18 holes last year, she didn't get credit for an official victory.

H.J. Choi (66) was second, a shot ahead of Ai Miyazato and Eun-Hee Ji.

Champions - Joe Ozaki shot a 9-under 63 in Endicott, N.Y., his low round in three years on the Tour, to gain a two-shot lead over Argentina's Eduardo Romero in the Dick's Sporting Goods Open.

Joey Sindelar, Ronnie Black, and Fulton Allem were tied for third at 66, while John Harris, Des Smyth, Bobby Wadkins, and Morris Hatalsky were another shot back after Round 1.

Bernhard Langer, second on the Champions Tour in earnings and playing the En-Joie Golf Club course for the first time, shot a 73.

European - Ross Fisher birdied his last hole for a 4-under 68 (13-under 131) that gave him a one-shot lead over Graeme McDowell after the second round of the European Open in Ash, England.

Sergio Garcia (64), who finished eagle, birdie with putts of 9 and 18 feet, was third at 9 under.