FORT WORTH (Texas), May 22: Kenny Perry was hotter than the scorching Texas weather on Saturday, firing a third round six-under 64 at the $5.6 million Colonial to surge seven shots clear of US compatriots Billy Mayfair and Steve Stricker. With temperatures hovering around 100 degrees Fahrenheit, Perry continued to set a blistering pace with a second consecutive bogey-free round at the Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, leaving the 2003 champion at 18-under and within sight of his second Colonial title in three years.

Having set the 36-hole record of 128 at Hogan’s Alley on Friday, Perry began the day with a three-shot advantage and methodically pulled away from the wilting field with six birdies evenly split between the front and back nine.

Leading third round scores:

192 — Kenny Perry (US) 65, 63, 64.

199 — Billy Mayfair (US) 67, 66, 66; Steve Stricker (US) 68, 65, 66.

200 — Peter Lonard (Australia) 69, 66, 65.

201 — Brandt Jobe (US) 65, 69, 67; Rod Pampling (Australia) 66, 67, 68.

202 — Geoff Ogilvy (Australia) 71, 67, 64; Fredrik Jacobson (Sweden) 68, 69, 65; Aaron Baddeley (Australia) 69, 66, 67; Ted Purdy (US) 66, 65, 71; D.J. Trahan (US) 64, 67, 71.

203 — Bernhard Langer (Germany) 68, 69, 66; Scott Hend (Australia) 68, 67, 68; David Toms (US) 69, 66, 68; Joe Durant (US) 71, 63, 69.

204 — John Senden (Australia) 70, 68, 66; Jim Furyk (US) 69, 68, 67; Corey Pavin (US) 70, 66, 68; Rory Sabbatini (South Africa) 67, 69, 68; Arjun Atwal (India) 70, 65, 69; Tim Clark (South Africa) 71, 64, 69; Kirk Triplett (US) 66, 66, 72.

205 — Bo Van Pelt (US) 70, 67, 68; Justin Leonard (US) 67, 69, 69; Bob Tway (US) 67, 69, 69; Ben Crane (US) 69, 66, 70; K.J. Choi (South Korea) 69, 66, 70; Arron Oberholser (US) 68, 67, 70.

DOUGHERTY POISED

MAYNOOTH (Ireland): Britain’s Nick Dougherty is on the brink of his second European Tour victory of the year after regaining the lead in the Irish Open third round on Saturday.

Joint leader after the first day, the 22-year-old Englishman fired a five-under-par 67 to finish at nine-under 207.

Dougherty, who believes he is in a better position than when he won his maiden European Tour title at the Singapore Masters in January, will take a two-stroke lead into Sunday’s final round.

His compatriots David Howell, who carded a 69, and tour rookie Oliver Wilson, whose course record 66 was inspired by two spectacular back-nine eagle-twos, shared second place.

Overnight leader Stephen Dodd, after a 72, was a further two strokes back in a tie for fourth with South African Andrew McLardy (68) and Portugal’s Jose Filipe Lima (69).

Colin Montgomerie’s bid for a US Open place may now rest on his performance next week at Wentworth after the Carton House course designer plummeted down the field with a 75 to lie 12 strokes off the lead.

Leading third round scores:

207 — Nick Dougherty (Britain) 68, 72, 67.

209 — David Howell (Britain) 70, 70, 69; Oliver Wilson (Britain) 72, 71, 66.

211 — Stephen Dodd (Britain) 69, 70, 72; Jose-Filipe Lima (Portugal) 71, 71, 69; Andrew McLardy (South Africa) 72, 71, 68.

213 — Angel Cabrera (Argentina) 71, 73, 69; Pelle Edberg (Sweden) 72, 68, 73; Philip Golding (Britain) 72, 69, 72; Padraig Harrington (Ireland) 73, 72, 68; Titch Moore (South Africa) 73, 74, 66; Jose Maria Olazabal (Spain) 74, 71, 68.

214 — David Carter (Britain) 74, 73, 67; Christian Cevaer (France) 73, 73, 68; Darren Clarke (Britain) 70, 75, 69; Francois Delamontagne (France) 72, 74, 68; Simon Dyson (Britain) 71, 72, 71; Richard Sterne (South Africa) 72, 73, 69; Lee Westwood (Britain) 70, 74, 70.

215 — Bradley Dredge (Britain) 72, 68, 75; Mark Foster (Britain) 71, 73, 71; Richard Green (Australia) 73, 74, 68; Stuart Manley (Britain) 72, 74, 69; Paul McGinley (Ireland) 72, 69, 74; Colm Moriarty (Ireland) 69, 74, 72; Henrik Stenson (Sweden) 74, 69, 72.—Reuters