Home-state hero Charles Howell fired a bogey-free five-under par 67 on Saturday to seize a one-stroke lead over US compatriot Kenny Perry after the third round of the US PGA AT and T Classic.

Howell stood on 13-under par 203 after 54 holes in the $5.5-million event, with Perry making a birdie at the 18th to finish one stroke back with a US trio of David Toms, Ryan Palmer and Jonathan Byrd on 205.

Japan's Ryuji Imada fired a bogey-free 66 to share sixth with American Heath Slocum.

Howell, whose hometown of Augusta hosts the Masters every April, plans to keep the aggressive approach Sunday that put him into the lead on Saturday.

"On this golf course you can make a lot of birdies when you go out there and play aggressive," said Howell, who has worked on putting speed this year.

"It's amazing. When you take care of that it seems to find a way to go in."

Howell birdied the sixth and seventh holes, began the back nine with another and added birdies at 15 and 17 to grab the lead, using accuracy off the tee to set up a solid round.

"I've struggled a lot over the past year with that but it's getting better," he said. "It's improving.

"I gave myself a lot of opportunities," Howell said. "I played fairly conservative into the greens. I drove the ball well and got in places where I could play from. Not losing any shots off the tee is big, especially around this course."

Howell has just three bogeys through three rounds.

"There is some strategy and thought off the tees as well as into the greens," Howell said. "That's why I think it's so important to get the ball in play off the tee."

Perry birdied the third and eagled the par-5 fifth hole and played level the rest of the way, bogeys at nine and 16 offset by birdies at 12 and 18.

Perry's birdie at the last came after he blasted out of a bunker and made a two-footer to pick up a stroke.

"It was a good day. I hit the ball beautifully and got off to a good start," Perry said. "I felt very comfortable out there. I wasn't nervous and my swing felt great."

Imada birdied the third and par-5 fourth and sixth holes, had another back-to-back birdie set at 12 and 13 and added another at 17 to put himself into contention.

AFP