O'Hern out to shed his maiden tag

Australian Nick O'Hern vowed he could finally "close the deal" and snatch a maiden USPGA Tour title after a strong third round at the AT&T National tournament in Maryland.

O'Hern shot a bogey-free 67 at the par-70 Congressional Country Club near Washington DC to sit two shots behind American leader Tom Pernice heading into the final round.

Pernice carded a 69 to reach 10-under for the tournament and move one shot clear of compatriot Steve Stricker.

O'Hern shared third spot with Americans Tommy Armour and Jeff Overton at eight-under.

West Australian O'Hern, best known for twice beating Tiger Woods in match play, is yet to win a PGA event since first appearing on tour in 2004.

But his performance on the greens this week has given him confidence he can change that at what will be the site of the 2011 US Open.

"I've always put myself in good positions going into Sundays from time to time," O'Hern said.

"Now it's a matter of closing the deal.

"I'm playing solid enough and putting well enough which has always been my downfall maybe when it comes to Sundays.

"I don't quite putt well enough, but I'm putting beautiful at the moment."

O'Hern's best performance on the tour to date is a second-place finish at the Booz Allen Classic in 2006.

This year, he has two top-ten finishes in 16 tournaments but believed a clear-minded approach would help him improve that record on Monday.

"It's that old cliché, one shot at a time," O'Hern said.

"With me it's more about just trying to get the mind right and then think positively.

"If I can put myself in position tomorrow and putt well, I should be able to give it a good show."

Australian Robert Allenby is also in contention, tied for ninth at six-under after matching O'Hern's 67.

John Senden and Rod Pampling are at four under.

Holder KJ Choi shot a one-over 71 for the day and was at even-par for the tournament, while US Open runner-up Rocco Mediate carded a 67 but was eight shots off the pace.

The tournament is hosted by Tiger Woods but the world No.1 is taking the remainder of the season off to recuperate from knee surgery he underwent after winning the US Open in a playoff last month.

Without the world's best player, attendance at the tournament dipped Saturday more than 15,000 from a year ago to 22,311.