LA QUINTA, Calif. — Nick Dunlap held on for a one-shot victory over Christian Bezuidenhout on Sunday at the American Express, becoming the first amateur to win on the PGA Tour in 33 years.
Dunlap, 20, a sophomore at the University of Alabama and the reigning U.S. Amateur champion, becomes the first amateur to win since Phil Mickelson at the 1991 Tucson Open.
He became the seventh amateur player since 1945 to win a tour tournament, and the third player since 1957 to win a tour event.
In just his fourth tour event, Dunlap became the youngest amateur to win on tour since 1910.
Dunlap was the only amateur among the 156 participants in the tournament, long known as the Bob Hope Desert Classic, but he shot an incredible score of 60 in the third round to take a three-shot lead. He jumped into the lead.
He lost that lead Sunday on the front nine of PGA West's Stadium Course, but played with veteran resilience in the final stages, recovering from two errant shots on the 18th to finish with a 6-foot par. I made the putt and finished with a 2 under par 70.
His score of 29-under 259 set a new tournament score record for a 72-hole tournament.
Bezuidenhout birdied the 18th in the front group and continued to put pressure on Dunlap, but Dunlap's tee shot fell high into the rough.
His second shot was not very accurate, but luckily it rolled from the rough into a grassy drainage area outside the green.
Dunlap came within 6 feet on his third shot and celebrated his title-winning par putt with hugs from his parents and girlfriend, who flew cross country Saturday to watch in person.
Dunlap will not receive the $1.5 million first-place prize, which will be awarded to Bezuidenhout after South Africa's final round of 65.
