Golf:Paul Goydos birdied five of the last eight holes to overhaul fellow American Kenny Perry and grab a one-shot lead after the third round of the Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Connecticut.

Two off the pace when the weather-delayed second round was completed earlier in the day, Goydos fired a sparkling seven-under-par 63 to take charge at the rain-softened TPC River Highlands.

The double PGA Tour winner, helped by a sizzling run of four consecutive birdies from the 13th, covered the back nine in five-under to post a 16-under total of 194.

"I scored well, just kind of took advantage of the good breaks I got today and survived the mistakes," said Goydos after a round featuring eight birdies and a lone bogey. "You need to make sure you enjoy it and make sure, if nothing else, you learn from it," he said of his bid to win a first title since the 2007 Sony Open in Sunday's final round.

"The good thing is it's all going to be in front of me."

American David Toms, winner of the 2001 US PGA Championship, was a further stroke back at 14-under after a matching 66.

Perry, who briefly held a three-stroke lead with six holes remaining, missed a five-foot birdie attempt in fading light at the last and had to settle for second place after carding a six-birdie 66.

"When it gets dark, I don't see very good," Perry, 48, said of his wasted opportunity on the 18th green. "I can't see the lines when it gets dark, and that's just the way it was."

Overall, though, the 13-times PGA Tour winner was delighted with his position.

"I made a lot of crucial par saves in the middle of the round to keep me going and made a lot of nice birdie putts," he said. So I'm right there, ready to go for tomorrow."

For much of the day, it appeared the Tour veteran would retain control of the tournament.

Back-to-back birdies from the par-three 11th put Perry three ahead but he bogeyed the 14th after finding a greenside bunker with his approach.

That dropped him into a tie for the lead at 14-under with Goydos, who had birdied 11, 13 and 14.

Goydos picked up another shot at the 15th before collecting a fourth successive birdie at the par-three 16th where he sank an uphill 28-foot putt from behind the green.

Two ahead at 16 under, his lead was cut to one when Perry also birdied the 296-yard 15th.

Goydos, however, parred the last two holes to maintain a one-stroke cushion going into today's final round.

American Lucas Glover, surprise winner of the weather-delayed US Open on Monday, fired a 65 to lie seven shots off the pace at nine-under.