The Australian team of Luck, Davis and Harrison Endycott lead the 30th World Amateur Team Championship (WATC) by a whopping 16 shots after 54-holes, having reached 32-under-par 398 with a round to play.

Luck, the 2016 US Amateur champion, made nine birdies to match the fourth-lowest round in WATC history and the Australians’ three-round total was one off the championship record set by the United States in 2014. Davis had an opportunity to tie the record but missed a six-foot birdie putt on the final hole.

“I don’t want to look too far ahead, but it’s exciting to be in the hunt,” said Australian captain Matt Cutler. “To be quite considerably ahead is a great position to be, but we are excited about the prospect of what could occur.”

Luck led the Aussie charge on day 3 with a nine under 63. PHOTO: Steven Gibbons/USGA

West Australian Luck, who posted two non-counting scores in the opening two rounds as just two of three-man team scores are used toward the total each day, birdied his first hole when he stuck a 9-iron within two feet of the hole. He later made a 14-foot putt for birdie on the 8th hole and converted another one on the next hole for an outward half of 31. Luck then hit a lob wedge to tap-in-range on the 10th before making birdies at both par-5s coming home.

“I had a good day at the office,” said Luck, who became the third Australian to win the US Amateur last month. “I felt like I let the team down a bit yesterday shooting even par and the boys obviously having good scores. It was great to come out, put a good round together and a 63 looks really nice on the scoreboard.”

Davis, who was this year’s Brabazon Trophy runner-up in England, shot his third consecutive round in the 60s and is the low individual player at 14 under for the championship. He had three birdies on the inward nine as his team equaled the third largest 54-hole lead in WATC history and matched the second-lowest third-round score (131).

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“The guys are all experienced players and could go out there tomorrow without any advice,” said Cutler about looking forward to the final round. “I don’t think you change what has got you here.”

Ireland moved into second place at 16 under after registering a third round 135. Jack Hume, a member of the victorious 2015 Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup Team, turned in a six under 66 and teammate Paul McBride had a 69.

Harrison Endycott had a third round 73 but remains at 8 under, six shots from the individual trophy lead held by team mate Cameron Davis. PHOTO: Steven Gibbons/USGA

Hume reeled off six birdies for a 30 on the inward nine. He delivered a sand wedge to within 4 feet at No. 10 and ended that stretch by hitting a 8-iron to within 7 feet at the par-4 18th.

“We’re not thinking about a medal just yet, there is still a bit of work to do,” said Irish captain Tony Goode. “Tomorrow is the important round, the fourth quarter as they say in American football, so we’ll have to put something together for the last quarter. The boys are up for it, they’re in good form.”

Scottie Scheffler shot a 69 and Maverick McNealy carded a 71 as the USA moved to within one shot of Ireland in third place at 15 under 415. The Americans were eight strokes back of Australia to begin the round but failed to keep pace early on.