Perry gets hot in the desert

Veteran holes monster putt on the last to edge clear

Last updated: 1st February 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Perry gets hot in the desert

Perry: chasing a 13th title

FBR Open
Third round leaders
US unless stated
-12 K Perry
-11 S Piercy
-10 K Na
-10 B Gay
-10 C Hoffman

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US Ryder Cup star Kenny Perry will take a one-shot lead into the final round of the FBR Open after carding a 66 on Saturday.

A three-time winner last season on his way to making Paul Azinger's team in his native Kentucky, Perry closed with a 25-foot birdie putt on the 18th to edge ahead of fellow American Scott Piercy.

"I shot 63 yesterday and today I played beautifully," the 48-year-old Perry said. "I actually felt better from tee to green today than I did the first two days.

"My putter was off," added Perry, who had 31 putts on Saturday after needing just 27 the previous day.

"I left every putt short today for whatever reason until the last hole. But other than that, my birdies were close and short, except on the last hole."

Perry will be bidding for a 13th PGA Tour title on Sunday.

By contrast, Piercy is without a top-10 finish in 22 career PGA starts but he moved up the leaderboard thanks to a 66 of his own.

Piercy was eight-under through 13 holes, but he stumbled home with bogeys at number 14, 15 and 17.

Piercy, who won twice on the Nationwide Tour last year, had five birdies on the front nine and added three more after making the turn.

Kevin Na and Brian Gay are tied for third at 10-under 203. Na fired a 66 and Gay a 67 to move into contention.