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At American Express, amateur Nick Dunlap shoots 60 to lead Sam Burns and Justin Thomas
In La Quinta, California, at The American Express golf tournament, University of Alabama sophomore Nick Dunlap made history by firing an impressive 12-under 60. This exceptional round not only gave him a three-shot lead over Sam Burns but also matched the record for the lowest round by an amateur in PGA Tour history. Dunlap’s outstanding performance has positioned him to potentially achieve the first victory by a non-professional in 33 years.
Twenty-year-old Dunlap, with a total score of 27-under 189 across the tournament’s three courses, showcased his skill at La Quinta Country Club. His aggressive and accurate round included 10 birdies and an eagle. The remarkable 60 he carded equals the lowest round by an amateur, previously achieved by Patrick Cantlay in 2011 at the Travelers Championship. Notably, Dunlap’s score to par stands as the best ever recorded by an amateur, surpassing Cantlay’s 10-under at the par-70 TPC River Highlands.
Reflecting on his performance, Dunlap expressed confidence in his putting, stating, “The putter felt so good, and the hole looked like a funnel.”
Only seven amateurs have secured victories on the PGA Tour since 1945, and this achievement becomes rarer with only four instances since 1950. Phil Mickelson, as a 20-year-old Arizona State junior, was the last amateur to accomplish this feat, winning the Tucson Open in 1991.
Although Sam Burns initially led after two rounds at The American Express, Nick Dunlap surged ahead with a remarkable 12-under 60, played a few hours earlier. Despite Burns posting a steady 65 on the Stadium Course to stay competitive, Dunlap’s exceptional performance put him in the lead.
The upcoming final round, set to take place on the Stadium Course, witnessed Justin Thomas tying the course record on Saturday. Dunlap, reflecting on the challenge ahead, commented, “I think it’s going to be hard either way. Looking at this place, like, it’s supposed to be easy, and guys are shooting low numbers, but you still have to go do it. It’s still a golf course, and you still have to hit good shots. There’s out of bounds everywhere. For (Sunday), there’s a lot of water out there. Just hit one good shot at a time, and try to stack ’em and give myself a lot of good looks.”
Justin Thomas, who secured a national title with the Crimson Tide in 2013, made a significant climb up the leaderboard by registering six consecutive birdies on his back nine at The American Express. This impressive streak matched the longest birdie run of his career.
Despite being a two-time major champion, Thomas has been without a victory since his second PGA Championship triumph in May 2022. However, he now has an opportunity to compete with his fellow Alabama alum, Nick Dunlap, who is currently leading the tournament.
Expressing a mix of admiration and humor, Thomas commented, “Didn’t think I was going to have to deal with a freakin’ college kid shooting 60 today. He’s a stud. He’s the real deal. I think how well he’s handled the big moments, it says a lot about somebody. It seems like the bigger the stage, the better he plays. I’ve never played with him before. I probably would have preferred our first time in a practice round.”
In this paraphrased version, the key information about Justin Thomas’s performance and his comments on Nick Dunlap is retained in a concise manner.
Nick Dunlap, who, like Tiger Woods, holds victories in both the U.S. Amateur and the U.S. Junior Amateur, has participated in the past two U.S. Opens owing to his success as an amateur. Despite only being in his fourth PGA Tour event, Dunlap, the lone amateur in the 156-player field, earned a spot through a sponsor exemption. Notably, he became the first amateur to make the cut at The American Express, previously known as the Bob Hope Desert Classic.
In the event of a win, Dunlap, at 20 years old, wouldn’t receive the $1.5 million first-place prize or 500 FedEx Cup points. However, the victory would secure him a PGA Tour card and playing privileges for two years. If successful, Dunlap would also become the second-youngest winner since 1931, with Jordan Spieth being the youngest at 19 when he won the John Deere Classic in 2013.
During the recent round, Dunlap started two shots behind Sam Burns but quickly took the lead with six birdies on his first eight holes. He continued to excel with three more birdies, an eagle from a long putt, and a final birdie on the par-4 18th.
