Forth Worth, Texas ? Kenny Perry feels as if he’s in his own backyard at the Colonial, and he’s turning the old course into his personal playground.

So comfortable with the course that his vision problems aren’t even a concern this week, Perry shot 6-under 64 Saturday to set another Colonial scoring record and take a seven-stroke lead over Billy Mayfair and Steve Stricker going into the final round.

Perry broke his own 54-hole scoring record at 18-under 192. It is also the lowest score at the end of three rounds on the PGA Tour this season, although Joe Ogilvie’s 193 at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic in January was 23 under.

Through 54 holes, Perry has just one bogey – on No. 8, his 17th hole Thursday. He has made 51 of 54 putts from 15 feet or less, including a five-footer after blasting from the sand to avoid a closing bogey Saturday.

The 44-year-old Perry is playing even better than he did when he won Colonial in 2003, an event more known for Annika Sorenstam’s becoming the first woman in 58 years to play on the PGA Tour.

During his Colonial victory two years ago, Perry matched the course record (61), set the 54-hole scoring record for the first time and won with an overall record of 19 over.

This year, Perry started with a 36-hole scoring record of 12 under.

Playing in record heat, with temperatures in the upper 90s, on another day with little or no breeze, very unusual for the Colonial, Perry was able to separate himself from the field.

Mayfair, who hasn’t won since 1998, and Stricker, trying to regain full-time playing privileges on tour, both had 66s Saturday. Peter Lonard was fourth, eight strokes back, after his 65.