Kenny Perry had an eagle and five birdies to go along with four bogeys as he shot a 3-under 68 to take a two-stroke lead on Saturday after the third round of the Senior PGA Championship.

The 52-year-old Perry is close to an elusive first major championship in a career with more near-misses in the 2008 Masters and 1996 PGA Championship than his 16 total tournament victories.

He was at 10 under overall.

Two-time champion Jay Haas was second after closing with a pair of birdies for a 67. Cochran was three strokes back after rallying for two birdies on the back nine for an even-par 71, and Rod Spittle was four shots back after a 67.

Next was Australian Peter Senior, who shot a 69 to be equal fifth, five strokes off the pace.

Perry had a three-stroke lead after chipping in from about 30 feet from an awkward lie for an eagle on No. 4, with both feet in a greenside bunker and the ball on the lip. The lead was down to one after he followed up with consecutive bogeys, but he was back up by four over Cochran and Haas after birdies on Nos. 7 and 8, and no one got closer than two strokes on the back nine.

Perry had a two-shot lead with two holes to go in the 2008 Masters, but lost in a playoff to Angel Cabrera. He had a late lead and lost it in the 1996 PGA Championship, losing in a playoff to Mark Brooks.