Nick Dunlap on the cusp of history at the American Express
20 Jan 2024
by Justin Golba of AmateurGolf.com
see also: Nick Dunlap Rankings
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Nick Dunlap (Alabama Athletics Photo)
After winning the 2023 U.S. Amateur and playing on the winning 2023 United States Walker Cup team, Alabama's Nick Dunlap became one of the top amateurs in the world.
Now, he has a chance to do something that has not been done since 1991 by an amateur.
Dunlap, the 2023 AmateurGolf.com Player of the Year, earned a rare amateur sponsors exemption into the American Express at PGA West and is currently sitting an incredible 27-under, leading Sam Burns by three shots and fellow Crimson Tide alumni Justin Thomas by four shots heading into the final round. He has shot rounds of 64-65-60 on the three different courses and will head back to the Stadium Course for the final round, where he shot a 7-under 65 in the second round.
Dunlap shot 12-under 60 at La Quinta Country Club, becoming the second amateur ever to shoot 60 on the PGA Tour. He recorded ten birdies and an eagle on No. 6. He started on No. 10 and was 4-under through five holes, making birdies on holes No. 11-14.
Dunlap is looking to become the first amateur in three decades to win on the PGA TOUR and the second-youngest winner in the last 90 years. Dunlap will be 20 years and 29 days old on Sunday. The only younger winner on Tour in the last 90 years was Jordan Spieth at the 2013 John Deere Classic.
A win would also secure a PGA Tour card for Dunlap.
“It's great to be here. It's about 10 degrees and snowing back home, and I'm not in school, and it's 70 degrees,” Dunlap said earlier this week. “I think my caddie Hunter said it a couple of times, the weather, it couldn't get better. Mr. Marzano and American Express have given me a great opportunity to be here, and just trying to make the best of it.”
His play was noticed by Thomas, who Dunlap will be paired with in the final group tomorrow.
"Told myself after the weekend I wanted to shoot 30 under this weekend," Thomas told the PGA Tour after the round. "Didn't think I was gonna have to deal with a freaking college kid shooting 60 today."
Thomas added, "He's a stud."
There have been four amateurs to win on the PGA Tour, with the most recent one being Phil Mickelson in 1991 at the Northern Telecom Open. Other amateurs to win on the PGA Tour are Scott Verplank (1985), Doug Sanders (1956), and Gene Littler (1954).
This is Dunlap's fourth PGA Tour event. He missed the cut in the previous three.