Perry & Pernice atop Charles Schwab Cup Championship


While second-round leader Jay Haas struggled, Kenny Perry and Tom Pernice Jr. did just enough to assume the lead through 54 holes of the Charles Schwab Cup Championship. The $2.5 million, 72-hole event - the season-ender on the Champions Tour - is being held on the Cochise Course at the Desert Mountain Club in Scottsdale, Ariz.

The 60-year-old Haas, the oldest player in the 30-man field, couldn't get untracked Saturday. He made the turn in 4-over 39 after carding two bogeys and a double on the par-4 fourth, then came home with four more bogeys and three birdies for a 36 and a 5-over 75.

Meanwhile, Perry carded a 4-under 68 and Pernice, the first-round leader, had a 70 to share the lead at 8-under 202. Haas is a shot back heading into Sunday.

Perry held the outright lead until the Kentuckian had bogeys on the 13th and 14th holes. But the 54-year-old, who won the 2013 Charles Schwab Cup, birdied the 15th and 18th for his 68.

Only two shots out of the lead are Scotland's Colin Montgomerie, who carded the low third round of 66, and the tournament's defending champion, Fred Couples, who had a 69.

Trailing Perry and Pernice by three are Wes Short Jr., Marco Dawson and Gene Sauers, who all posted 69s, and Michael Allen (70). Allen is coming off a victory in last week's AT&T Championship.

Tied for 10th at 4-under 206 are Germany's Bernhard Langer (70) and Olin Browne (71). Langer has already sewed up the Charles Schwab Cup title. The 57-year-old, a five-time winner this year, secured the Cup by finishing tied for sixth last week.

Five strokes behind the leaders is Paul Goydos (70), while six back are Tom Lehman (67), Woody Austin (70) and Mexico's Esteban Toledo (70).

For all the scores, visit http://www.pgatour.com/champions/leaderboard.html.