Southwestern Amateur: Carney wins by four

EL PASO, TEXAS (June 17, 2011) -- Stephen Carney of Tulsa, Oklahoma, sank a 50ft putt on the 18th hole for eagle to put the exclamation point on an impressive victory in the 96th Annual Southwestern Amateur at Butterfield Trail Golf Club in El Paso, Texas. He hit 17 of 18 greens in regulation and his only bogey was on hole 16, the one green he missed. He held a seven stroke lead heading into the final round and shot 67 (-5) to finish with a 72-hole total of 262 (-26), four strokes clear of charging Tim Madigan of Rio Rancho, New Mexico, who shot the low round of the day, 64 (-8). “I slept really well last night and was excited this morning to get started," said Carney. "I hit and putted the ball really well and try to take advantage of the short par 4’s and par 5’s. I was a little nervous, though, on the second shot on 18 over the water.” He certainly didn’t seem that way when he coolly knocked in the eagle putt. Third place went to Logan McCracken of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, who close with a 69 (-3) to total 274 (-14). Andrew Widmar was the low El Paso player, finishing tied for seventh at 279 (-9). All players who returned a scorecard in the final round have exempt status into the 2012 Southwestern Amateur to be held at the Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain Golf Course in Marana, Arizona