American Troy Matteson takes a three-shot lead into the final round of the Frys.com Open after breaking a PGA Tour record with a second consecutive round of 61 in Scottsdale, Arizona yesterday.

The 29-year-old carded ten birdies in his second straight nine-under-par score, the only blemish coming with a bogey at the 13th. His total of 122 for successive rounds broke Steve Stricker’s Tour record of 123, set at the Bob Hope Classic in January.

Matteson heads into the final round on 16 under overall and looking for his second PGA Tour victory and will do so with a three-shot cushion over compatriots Chris Stroud and Webb Simpson, and South African Tim Clark.

A delighted Matteson said afterwards: “With the year I’ve had, it’s — first of all — it’s indescribable. Two days ago, if you’d have asked me what I was going to shoot on Friday, I would have said ‘I’ll take anything in the red’.

“It’s amazing how fast golf changes. It’s just one day something clicks, and all of a sudden you get on a little run.

“Hopefully I can keep it going. It’s nice to have some good rounds with the year I’ve had. It’s getting towards a nice ending.”

On lowering the PGA Tour record with stunning back-to-back rounds, he added: “It’s just been unbelievable. I’ve not even shot a 61 prior to this week. To shoot two of them, I don’t even know what to say.

“(I’m) just making a lot of birdies out there and hitting a lot of good shots and keeping my ball in play... a lot of close opportunities, and that’s really the key out here.”

American rookie Rickie Fowler, joint second-round leader, finished round three four shots off the pace along with first-round leader Nick O’Hern of Australia. The pair were joined on 198 by Bill Lunde, Ryan Moore and Jamie Lovemark.

England’s Greg Owen, who like Fowler posted 65 on Thursday and 64 on Friday to share the lead at the halfway stage, slipped back to joint 19th on Saturday after recording five bogeys in a disappointing three-over 73.