Newly-minted pro Nick Dunlap records an ace at the PGA Tour's Cognizant Classic
01 Mar 2024
by Justin Golba of AmateurGolf.com
see also: Nick Dunlap Rankings
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Nick Dunlap (USGA Photo)
Nick Dunlap, the former Alabama standout and 2023 U.S. Amateur champion, keeps adding to his impressive resume.
This time, he made his first career ace on the PGA Tour, holing his tee shot on hole No. 7 in the second round of the Cognizant Classic at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. He hit an 8-iron from 197 yards from the left side of the tee box.
Dunlap has a laundry list of amateur accomplishments, becoming the only golfer other than Tiger Woods to win the U.S. Junior Amateur (2021) and the U.S. Amateur (2023). He also won the 2023 Northeast Amateur, the 2023 SEC Fall Preview, and the 2023 North & South Amateur. He also finished in second place at the Men's World Team Amateur Championship.
Dunlap decided to forgo the rest of his collegiate eligibility and turn professional after he won the American Express on the PGA Tour in just his fifth career PGA Tour start.
Related:
Roll Tide: Nick Dunlap joins the history books, wins the PGA Tour's American Express
Dunlap became the fifth amateur to win on the PGA Tour, becoming the first to do it since 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).
Dunlap is 5-under after the first two rounds, shooting rounds of 67-70 to sit at T23 heading into the weekend.