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Nick Dunlap became the first amateur to win on the PGA Tour since 1991 after picking up a first-place finish at The American Express in Palm Springs.
A University of Alabama student, he beat out a field of pros to land an impressive victory.
Dunlap played out of his mind over the weekend, entering the final round with a three-shot advantage. A rocky start put that win in jeopardy, but an incredible finish cemented his status as champion.
The amateur went on a tear on the back nine, sinking a pair of birdies and seven pars.
A short putt on the 18th hole fell, allowing him to finish one shot ahead of second-placed Christiaan Bezuidenhout, and the celebration was on!
WOW! 🏆
20-year-old amateur Nick Dunlap is a PGA TOUR champion.
He’s the youngest amateur to win since 1910. pic.twitter.com/DKQmK0fuAe
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 22, 2024
With the victory, he became eligible for PGA Tour membership. Unfortunately, he remained ineligible from taking home his cut of the winnings.
Still a college sophomore, his $1.5 million payout will go to the runner-up.
It’s a situation that’s seen on the PGA Tour often, most recently with Texas A&M golfer Sam Bennett last year. After cracking the Top 20 at The Masters last April, he was positioned for a $260K payout.
His amateur status, however, wouldn’t allow him to qualify.
Though Nick Dunlap won’t land that major payday following a fantastic four days of play, he’ll receive other benefits from the win. He might also have a decision to make about ditching that amateur status and turning pro.