Burns fires 61 for lead at La Quinta; amateur Dunlap, 20, two shots back
Sam Burns shot a career-best round with “RTR” shaved into the side of his head. The abbreviation for “Roll Tide Roll” was the Louisiana State product’s follicular punishment for losing a bet with Justin Thomas.
Alabama sophomore Nick Dunlap apparently took it literally: The 20-year-old — the 156-man field’s lone amateur — is on Burns’ heels halfway through The American Express in La Quinta, California. Burns shot 11-under-par 61 for a 17-under 127 total, one stroke better than Michael Kim (63) and two better than Dunlap (65) and Kyoung-hoon Lee (64).
■ DP World: At Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Cameron Young took a three-stroke lead at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic’s midpoint in his first Dubai tournament. The 25th-ranked American had nine birdies and a bogey on No. 18 in an 8-under 64 for a 13-under 131 total. Adrian Meronk (66), the 2023 tour player of the year, and Andy Sullivan (67) were tied for second.
■ LPGA: At Orlando, Fla., Lydia Ko shot a bogey-free 5-under 67 to tie first-round leader Ayaka Furue (71) at 8-under 136 for a two-stroke lead halfway through the season-opening Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions. Gemma Dryburgh (68) and Gaby Lopez (71) were tied for third.
■ Obit: Jack Burke Jr., the oldest living major champion, died Friday — 10 days before his 101st birthday. The Fort Worth, Texas, native won the PGA Championship and Masters in 1956 among his 16 tour titles from 1950 to ’63 and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2000.
■ Champions: At Kailua-kona, Hawaii, Steven Alker boosted his Mitsubishi Electric Championship lead to two strokes entering the final round, shooting 9-under 63 for a 16-under 128 total. Harrison Frazar (63) and Steve Stricker (64) were tied for second.