Defending champion Boo Weekley will take a three-shot lead into the final round of the Verizon Heritage tournament in Hilton Head, South Carolina.

Weekley carded a best-of-the-day 65 to reach 15 under thanks to a run of five successive birdies in an outward half of 31.

Two further birdies and a solitary bogey saw him come home in 34 to move ahead of nearest rival fellow American Anthony Kim.

England's Nick Dougherty maintained his bid to secure a top-10 finish with a mixed round of 70.

Three birdies and a bogey made for a front nine of 34 while coming home he dropped two strokes and picked up only one to improve his overnight five under by just one stroke.

Londoner Brian Davis repaired some of the damage of his second-round 74 with a 69 which lifted him to three under and a share of 27th.