Nick Dunlap became just the second amateur to shoot 60 in a PGA Tour event on Saturday. On Sunday, he could become the first amateur in 33 years to win as well.
Dunlap, who won the U.S. Amateur last year, joined Patrick Cantlay as the only amateurs to shoot 60 in a PGA Tour event, doing so during the third round of the American Express Championship. His score of 12-under came at LaQuinta Country Club, one of three courses used for the tournament.
“I didn’t think I was going to have to deal with a fricking college kid shooting 60 today,’’ said Justin Thomas, whose 61 at the Stadium course left him in second place, four strokes back of Dunlap. Sam Burns is another stroke behind.
Thomas is trying to win for the first time since the 2022 PGA Championship and a victory would assure him spots in all of the remaining Signature Events for the rest of the year.
Dunlap, 20, who plays college golf at Alabama, would be just the fifth amateur to win on the PGA Tour since 1940 and the first since Phil Mickelson in 1991. Mickelson captured the Tucson Open while he was a junior at Arizona State.
Prior to Mickelson, Scott Verplank won the 1985 Western Open, Doug Sanders the 1956 Canadian Open and Gene Littler that 1954 San Diego Open.
A victory would give Dunlap all the perks that come with a PGA Tour victory, except the prize money. He’d be exempt for the rest of this year and the following two seasons. Although he is already qualified for the Masters due to his winning the U.S. Amateur, he could turn pro and play in the tournament.
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