Tom Pernice's spirited effort on the back nine vaulted him into the lead after the third round of the Buick Open.

After he eagled the par-five 13th, Pernice birdied the next four holes to finish six-under-par 66 and move to 13-under 204.

The late surge gave him a one-stroke lead over Jesper Parnevik, who started the round tied for 46th place, Brian Bateman and Scott Verplank.

Parnevik, who has not won on the PGA Tour since the 2001 Honda Classic, got off to a fast start and kept making birdies, finishing at eight-under.

Parnevik birdied three of his first five holes and added consecutive birdies at holes seven and eight. He sank four more in a six-hole stretch starting on the 11th before carding his only bogey of the day at the 17th.

Bateman registered five birdies, but his second straight bogey on the 15th and his final one on 18 cost him a chance for the lead.

Verplank's eagle on the par-four 14th hole vaulted him into the lead temporarily, but bogeys on the 15th and 17th ended his day on a sour note.

Tripp Isenhour signed for a six-under 66 and is two shots behind Parnevik at 11-under.

Kenny Perry and Jim Furyk, who entered the third round tied for the lead with Brett Quigley, are two shots off the pace after each recorded 71s.

Quigley bogeyed four of his first five holes and is now tied for 32nd after firing a 75.

Ireland's Darren Clarke is eight shots off the lead after a third round two under par 70.