Eaton helps Duke surge to the top

STILLWATER — Duke lit up the scoreboard Sunday morning, charging to the top with a course-record team score of 12-under-par 276 in the third round of the NCAA men’s golf championships at Karsten Creek Golf Club.

After starting the day at 2-over through the first two rounds, Duke took command at 10-under overall, three shots ahead of Oklahoma State.

Over an eight-hole stretch, Duke played the course in 16-under par, recording 12 birdies, two eagles and no bogeys as a team from the third through 10th holes — Nos. 12-18 and No. 1 on the course, after the Blue Devils began the day on the back nine.

Duke’s Chandler Eaton, who had a frustrating end to an otherwise stellar round of 3-under 69, was zoned in on his play too intently. He didn’t realize he had played a seven-hole stretch in 6 under, with four birdies and an eagle.

The Oklahoman: What are you thinking when you go 6-under in a span of seven holes?

Eaton: Wow, I didn’t even know that. I guess I just get on a roll. Basically, you can’t force anything on this course. I’m putting so well, so I’m like, get it somewhere on the green and I feel like I’m gonna make it. The course is so tough, I didn’t want to get ahead of myself. It’s a stressful course.

Despite the bogey and double-bogey at the end, how do you feel about the day overall?

I feel really happy with the score. The finish, I’m not gonna say I was expecting that, but you have to expect the unexpected out here. I’m not too frustrated by it. I just putted really well and stayed in the moment, as cliche as that sounds. And I just enjoyed the round. This is right where I want to be. What’s the point of practicing if you don’t want to be in the mix? I just kept telling myself that and enjoyed it.

After a strong round like this, how does the team refocus for the final day of stroke play?

There’s a reason tournaments are four rounds. We don’t have anything yet. We don’t own any score. It’s not over.