Amateur Dunlap holds nerve
NICK DUNLAP became the first amateur in 33 years to win on the PGA Tour, making a six-foot par putt on the final hole for a one-shot victory over Christiaan Bezuidenhout at The American Express early yesterday.
Dunlap, the 20-year-old University of Alabama sophomore and reigning U.S. Amateur champion, is the first amateur winner since Phil Mickelson at the Tucson Open in 1991. Playing in just his fourth tour event, he became only the seventh amateur winner since 1945 — and the third since 1957.
The only amateur in the 156player field in the tournament long known as the Bob Hope Desert Classic, Dunlap surged into a three-shot lead with a sizzling 60 in the third round. He lost that lead on Sunday on the front nine of the Stadium Course at PGA West, but he played with the resilience of a seasoned veteran down the stretch, capped by his recovery from two errant shots on the 18th for the winning par.
He ended up with a two-under 70 to finish at 29-under 259 and break the tournament scoring record as a 72-hole event. He is also the youngest winner in the event’s history, and became the youngest amateur to win on the tour since 1910.
Dunlap also doesn’t get the 500 FedEx Cup points — but his rewards are still ample. If he stays at Alabama he gets in the Masters, U.S. Open and British Open as the U.S. Amateur champion. If he turns pro and joins the PGA Tour, he still gets in the Masters and U.S. Open, along with the remaining seven $20million signature events on tour.
On the LPGA Tour, Lydia Ko rediscovered her winning touch in the season-opening Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions, closing with a two-under 70 for a two-shot victory over Alexa Pano at Lake Nona.
Ko, who finished at 14-under 274, won for the 20th time on the LPGA Tour. The 26-year-old from New Zealand became the seventh woman to win 20 LPGA titles before turning 27.
Leona Maguire finished 11th on four under.