Kenny Perry fired a four under par 66 to take a one-stroke lead over six golfers after three rounds of the Milwaukee Open.
Jay Don Blake, the leader after the first two rounds, settled for a 71 and is part of the pack behind Perry.
Brenden Pappas (63), Heath Slocum (68) Steve Allan (68), rookie Patrick Sheehan (70) and Jerry Kelly (70) are the others.
"It's going to take four or five-under to win this thing because so many guys are bunched up near the lead," Perry said.
The 42-year-old is playing his first tournament since his sensational three-start run that included consecutive wins at the Colonial and Memorial and a tie for third at the US Open.
Perry, who finished fourth here last year, moved in front with birdies on the 15th 16th and 17th and is at eight-under 202 after 54 holes.
"It was a pretty mellow kind of day. Nothing was happening," Perry said.
"I couldn't get anything going and then I made three birdies, looked up and was in the lead."
Perry also birdied the first, fifth and 11th holes.
Seeking his first victory in 12 years, Blake saw his score increase for the third straight day after shooting a 64 on Thursday and a 68 on Friday.
His only previous PGA Tour win came at the 1991 Shearson Lehman Brothers Open.
Pappas had the best round of the day, a bogey-free 63 that included four birdies on the back nine.
PA