This past weekend, Alabama sophomore [autotag]Nick Dunlap[/autotag] made history as he became the first amateur to win on the PGA Tour since Phil Mickelson last did it in 1991. He shot 29 under par to win the American Express Open in La Quinta, California by one stroke over Christiaan Bezuidenhout of South Africa. At only 20 years of age, Dunlap is on an unbelieve trajectory with a professional victory now under his belt.
Dunlap was hot the first two days of the tournament as he shot a 64 and 65, but he went absolutely nuclear on Saturday as he shot a 60. Since Dunlap was still an amateur he unfortunately had to forego his $1.5 million winnings. However, that will no longer be an issue moving forward as Dunlap announced today that he was going to forego his remaining eligibility and turn to the PGA Tour full-time.
It was this past summer that Dunlap really broke onto the scene as he became only the second player to ever win the US Amateur Championship as well as the US Junior Am along side some guy named Tiger Woods. Between Justin Thomas, Lee Hodges and now Dunlap, Alabama fans might soon become experts of the PGA Tour.
20-year-old @NickDunlap62 has announced he's turning pro!
The @AlabamaMGolf star and @TheAmExGolf winner has accepted TOUR membership. pic.twitter.com/rAOUNXEjn8
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 25, 2024
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