Perez is bidding for his first PGA Tour title since joining the circuit in 2002

Pat Perez finished strongly to card a third-round 67 to top the Bob Hope Classic leaderboard on 25 under par.

He sank five birdies on his inward nine holes for a five-under effort to lead US compatriot Steve Stricker by two.

On Thursday, Perez set a PGA Tour two-round record of 20-under-par 124 after following his opening 11-under 61 with a nine-under 63 in California.

Stricker is one stroke ahead of Vaughan Taylor after shooting a fine third-round 61 to remain in pursuit of Perez.

Despite his impressive form so far, Perez refused to contemplate a winning score as he closes in on a first PGA Tour title.

"No, I won't think about that at any point," said the American, 35. "I'm just going to try to go as low as I can and make a lot of putts. That's all I'm going to do.

"If I play great and I come up short, I come up short. But I'm not going to worry about a number or anything the other guys are doing."

Compatriot Stricker, 41, eight shots behind Perez at the start of his third round, is searching for his first Tour win since 2007.

Like Perez, he has had just one bogey in his first 54 holes, and was delighted with his third round.

"I just gave myself a lot of opportunities. I kept the ball in play, hit some close shots, made a couple of lengthy putts and everything that you need to do in an 11-under round, I guess I did," he said.

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