San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
AMATEUR DUNLAP TAKES LEAD WITH 12-UNDER 60
Nick Dunlap’s girlfriend flew cross-country Saturday to spend the weekend with him in Palm Springs, so the two college students planned to go get a steak dinner before Dunlap wraps up his day with a little laundry and some homework.
And then today, Dunlap will attempt to become the first amateur to win on the PGA Tour in 33 years.
The University of Alabama sophomore fired a 12under 60 to take a three-shot lead over Sam Burns at The American Express on Saturday, matching the lowest round by an amateur in PGA Tour history.
Justin Thomas shot 61 and was four shots back of the 20-year-old Dunlap, who tore up La Quinta Country Club and moved to 27-under 189 on the Coachella Valley tournament’s three generous courses.
With 10 birdies and an eagle in his aggressive, accurate round, Dunlap matched then-amateur Patrick Cantlay’s 60 at the 2011 Travelers Championship. Dunlap’s score to par was the best ever by an amateur; Cantlay was 10 under at par-70 TPC River Highlands.
“The putter felt so good,” Dunlap said. “The hole looked like a funnel.”
Only seven amateurs have won on the PGA Tour since 1945, and only four since 1950. The last to do it was Phil Mickelson, who won
the Tucson Open in 1991 as a 20-year-old Arizona State junior.
Burns led after two rounds, but Dunlap f lew past him while playing a couple of hours earlier. Burns shot a steady 65 on the Stadium
Course to stay in contention after taking the lead with his career-low 61 on Friday.
The final round will be played today on the Stadium Course, where Thomas tied the course record on Saturday. Dunlap shot a bogeyfree
65 on the Stadium on Friday for the highest score of his three impressive rounds.
“I think it’s going to be hard either way,” Dunlap said. “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 (today), 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.”
South Africa’s Christiaan Bezuidenhout was fourth at 21 under. Xander Schauffele shot 63 to join a group of five players at 20 under.
Elsewhere
Rory Mcilroy surged into contention at the Dubai Desert Classic by finishing off a 9-under 63 with an eagle on the final hole that left him two shots behind leader Cameron Young.
The No. 2-ranked Mcilroy, the defending champion, started the day 10 strokes behind Young. But he made four straight birdies from the seventh hole and then rolled in a 45-foot eagle putt from off the green at 18 to cap a flawless round at Emirates Golf Club.
• Lydia Ko moved closer to her first victory in 14 months, shooting a 4-under 68 to take a two-shot lead over Alexa Pano into the final round of the LPGA Tour’s season-opening Tournament of Champions in Orlando, Fla.
The 26-year-old from New Zealand is seeking her 20th career victory and first since the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship in 2022.
• Steven Alker won the season-opening Mitsubishi Electric Championship in Hawaii by four strokes for his second straight PGA Tour Champions victory and eighth in 54 career starts.