EL PASO, TEXAS (June 16, 2011) -- It was another record setting day for the third round of the 96th Annual Southwestern Amateur Golf Tournament at Butterfield Trail Golf Club. Todays second round co-leader Stephen Carney of Tulsa, Oklahoma, broke yesterdays record of 63 by Alex McMahon and shot 62 (-10) to take a commanding seven stroke lead into the final round tomorrow. Stephen had five birdies on both the front and back nines and said he was never in any real trouble, and made practically every putt he looked according to fellow competitor Alex Estrada. His 54-hole is an incredible 195 (-21)

Even though conditions strengthened today with 10-15 mph winds and tougher hole placements, twenty-two players broke par. Alone in second place is Tim Madigan of Rio Rancho, New Mexico, at 202 (-14) who played with Carney today and shot a respectable 69 (-3). Madigan is two shots clear of four players who are tied for third place at 204 (-12). Second round co-leader Alex Estrada of Belen, New Mexico, shot 71 (- 1), Alex McMahon of Oro Valley, Arizona, shot 70 (-2), Ben Jupper of West Des Moines, Iowa, surged from T9 with an outstanding 64 (-8) and El Paso’s Andrew Widmar fired a 66 (-6).

Other El Paso players David Persons shot 66 (-6), Bradley Lane, Mike Frias and Ross Rotwein shot 74 (+2), Daniel Medina shot 75 (+3), Jere Pelletier shot 76 (+4), 

In the 2-man challenge that was completed after the second round, the University of New Mexico #1 team of Alex Estrada and Sam Saunders of Albuquerque, New Mexico won with their best 3 of 4 rounds totaling 202. Both players are exempt into and will have their entry fees waived for the 2012 Southwestern Amateur to be at the Ritz- Carlton Dove Mountain Course in Marana (outside Tucson), Arizona.