Perry has now shot 11 straight rounds under 70

Kenny Perry birdied the 18th to tie Eric Axley and Brad Adamonis for the lead after the third round of the John Deere Classic in Illinois.

Englishman Brian Davis slipped out of contention after carding a two-over par 73 to finish the day in ninth, eight shots behind the leading trio.

Perry, 47 hit a four-under 67 to draw level with Axley (67) and Adamonis (66) on 15-under par.

They are one ahead stroke ahead of Will MacKenzie and Jay Williamson.

The latter had the round of the day at TPC Deere Run in Silvis coming home in 29 on his way to a 62, including eight birdies and an eagle, with only one bogey.

Perry made three birdies on the front nine and another at 14 before his lone bogey at 15, then birdied the final hole to share the lead.

PGA rookie Adamonis, 35, is seeking his first title after sharing sixth in Hartford three weeks ago.

He began with three birdies and added another at the fifth. His only bogey came at the 10th but he made amends with an eagle at the par-five 17th.

Axley, 34, shared ninth at last month's US Open and won his only PGA title at the 2006 Texas Open.

He made an eagle on two and a birdie at three before falling back with bogeys on the fourth, sixth and seventh holes.

Axley recovered with birdies at the 11th, 14th, 16th and 17th holes to earn a share of the lead.

Williamson opened with three birdies before a bogey at the fourth, his only one of the day, dropped him back.

But he began his scorching back nine with an eagle and added birdies at 11, 12, 14, 15 and 18.

MacKenzie, who led by two when the day began, took a double bogey at 10 and a bogey at the 17th to fall back.

The father-to-be missed two months of the season with a knee injury and missed the cut in eight of 12 starts.