Amateur Nick Dunlap makes history by winning American Express

LA QUINTA (Agencies): Twenty-year-old Nick Dunlap became the first amateur to win a PGA Tour event since Phil Mickelson in 1991 by capturing The American Express title on Sunday in La Quinta, Calif. Dunlap got up and down for par at the 72nd hole at the PGA West Pete Dye Stadium Course to shoot 2-under 70 for the round and 29-under 259 for the week, one ahead of South Africa’s Christiaan Bezuidenhout. The reigning U.S. Amateur champion and sophomore at Alabama is just the third amateur to win on tour since 1957, joining Mickelson (1991 Northern Telecom Open) and Scott Verplank (1985 Western Open). Dunlap is also the second-youngest tour winner in 90 years, behind Jordan Spieth’s win at the 2013 John Deere Classic as a 19-year-old.

The win gives Dunlap a two-year exemption on the PGA Tour and qualifies him for The Players Championship, the Masters and the PGA Championship. He does not take home any winnings, but he has a suddenly difficult decision about whether to leave Alabama early and turn pro. Dunlap opened the tournament 64-65-60, having racked up 10 birdies and an eagle to shoot 12 under at La Quinta Country Club in Saturday’s third round. He began Sunday with a three-shot lead over Sam Burns but found the water on the par-4 seventh hole and made double bogey. Dunlap responded with birdies at Nos. 8 and 14, and after chipping to 10 1/2 feet at the par-5 16th, he sank a birdie putt to tie Burns at 29 under.

Dunlap then landed his tee shot at the par-3 17th on the island green and Burns proceeded to find the water. Dunlap made par but hit his tee shot at No. 18 landed on a mound far right of the fairway. After Burns found the water for the second straight hole, Dunlap’s second shot traveled 194 yards and rolled down a different mound into a far corner of the fairway, setting up another remarkable chip to 6 feet. Bezuidenhout, meanwhile, eagled the par-4 15th and birdied the 18th to polish off a bogey-free 65 and make Dunlap’s final par putt necessary to avoid a playoff. Justin Thomas played in the final group with Dunlap and Burns. Thomas attended Alabama and roomed with Dunlap’s caddie there. Thomas shot 4-under 68 to tie for third at 27 under with Kevin Yu of Taiwan (63) and Xander Schauffele (65). Thomas finished his round with a 15-foot birdie putt, then watched Dunlap have his crowning moment. Burns, meanwhile, finished with two double bogeys and carded a 71, tying for sixth at 25 under with Michael Kim (65) and Canadian Adam Hadwin (67).