LA QUINTA, Calif. — Nick Dunlap's girlfriend took a cross-country flight Saturday to spend the weekend with them in Palm Springs, so the two college students got together before Dunlap finished the day with a little laundry and homework. I was planning on going out for a steak dinner.
And on Sunday, Dunlap will try to become the first amateur to win on the PGA Tour in 33 years.
The University of Alabama sophomore shot a 12-under 60 at the American Express on Saturday, putting him three shots behind Sam Burns and tying the lowest round by an amateur in PGA Tour history.
Justin Thomas shot a 61 to beat La Quinta Country Club over three easy courses at the Coachella Valley Tournament, coming within four strokes of 20-year-old Dunlap, who improved to 27-under 189.
Dunlap, who had 10 birdies and one eagle with an aggressive and precise round, tied then-amateur Patrick Cantlay's 60 at the 2011 Travelers Championship.
Dunlap's score to par was the highest in amateur history. Cantlay was 10 under par at TPC River Highlands with a par of 70.
“The putter felt really good,” Dunlap said. “The hole looked like a funnel.”
[1945年以降、PGAツアーで優勝したアマチュアはわずか7人、1950年以降はわずか4人だけです。
最後にそれを達成したのは、20歳のアリゾナ州立大学ジュニアとして1991年にツーソン・オープンで優勝したフィル・ミケルソンだった。
ダンラップのラウンドとチャンスは、53歳のミケルソンも気づかなかった。
「ニック・ダンラップは今週末、ツアーイベントで優勝する次のアマチュアになる本格的なチャンスを持っている。」 ミケルソンがXに投稿。 「この世代の [Ludvig] Aberg [Caleb] slat [Gordon] Sargent, Dunlap, and MW Lee are the youngest and most talented group of players I've ever seen, and will be a force for decades to come. ”
Burns led after two rounds, but Dunlap jumped him during play a few hours earlier.
After leading with a career-low 61 on Friday, Burns posted a solid 65 on the Stadium Course to stay in contention.
The final round will be held on Sunday at the Stadium Course, where Thomas tied the course record on Saturday.
Dunlap shot a bogey-free 65 at Stadium on Friday, the highest score in an impressive three rounds.
“I think it's going to be difficult either way,” Dunlap said. “When I look at this place, it should be easy and the players are shooting low numbers, but I think they still have to do it. This is still a golf course and you have to hit good shots. No. There's no-go everywhere. (Sunday) There's a lot of water. Take one good shot at a time and try to stack it up and give yourself a lot of good looks. ”
Thomas, who won the national title with the Crimson Tide in 2013, climbed the leaderboard with six consecutive birdies on the back nine, tying the record for the longest birdie streak of his career.
The two-time major champion hasn't won since winning his second PGA Championship in May 2022, but Thomas will have a chance to capture the fellow Alabama product.
“I never thought I'd have to deal with a crazy college kid shooting 60 points today,” Thomas said with a laugh. “He's a stud. He's the real deal. I think it says a lot about a person how well he handles the big moments. The bigger the stage, the better he plays.” It looks like it's going to be. I've never played with him before. I think it was probably better the first time in a practice round.”
Sunday's final grouping will be, in some ways, an Alabama-wide affair. Barnes is a product of LSU and an avowed enemy of the Crimson Tide, but he currently has the letters “RTR” (an acronym for “Roll Tide Roll”) tattooed on his head. There is. He lost a football bet with Thomas.
“I think Nick's a great player and a solid head, so I think it's going to be a really tough challenge for us (Sunday),” Burns said. “He's playing really well.”
Dunlap joined Tiger Woods last year as the only players to win both the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Junior Amateur.
His amateur success has led him to the past two U.S. Opens, but the American Express is only his fourth PGA Tour event.
Dunlap is the only amateur among the 156 players and is playing on a sponsor exemption.
He is the first amateur to compete in the event, long known as the Bob Hope Desert Classic, but winning will not earn him the $1.5 million first prize or 500 FedEx Cup points.
However, he will secure a PGA Tour card and two years of playing rights.
Dunlap becomes the second youngest winner since 1931.
Jordan Spieth was 19 years old when he won the John Deere Classic in 2013.
Dunlap started the round two strokes off Burns' lead, but quickly moved into the lead with six birdies in his first eight holes.
He made three more birdies after the turn, then held a long putt for eagle and finished with one final birdie on the par-4 18th.
South Africa's Christian Bezuidenhout placed fourth with 21 under par. Xander Schauffele shot a 63 and joined a group of five players at 20 under.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler finished the third round at the Stadium Course with a 69 and finished 14 under through 54 holes.
