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Dufner eagles twice to grab RBC lead

Pro Golf

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. — Jason Dufner took more than a solid showing away from the Masters last week. He took inspiration from winner Sergio Garcia.

Dufner finished 33rd in the year’s first major, things getting away from him late in the final round a week ago. But he took something from Garcia by managing his expectations and letting his game show through. And Dufner believes that’s why he’s got a one-shot lead heading to the final round of the RBC Heritage.

Dufner had two eagles on the way to a 6-under 65 to move in front of Graham DeLaet (69).

Dufner, at 13 under, said he entered Harbour Town Golf Links with low expectations, deciding that he’d gone through too many tournaments over-thinking how he was supposed to play or whose expectations he was supposed to live up to.

“That really gets in the way of playing well to be honest with you,” said Dufner, the 2013 PGA Championship winner. “So I think I maybe learned a little bit from the champion last week, where he kind of lowered his expectations, and got out of his way, so to speak, and let his talent and his game plan take it from there.”

Elsewhere:

n Stephen Ames shot a 4-under 68 on Saturday to take a one-stroke lead over five players into the final round of the PGA Tour Champions’ Mitsubishi Electric Classic.

n Paul Dunne will take a 2-shot lead into the final round of the European Tour’s Trophee Hassan II with a 4-under 69 on Saturday giving him a chance at his first professional title.

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