Nick Dunlap makes history as the first amateur to win on the PGA TOUR since fellow AJGA alumni, Phil Mickelson in 1991. Dunlap secured this historic victory at the The American Express in La Quinta, California.
The last three amateurs to win on the PGA TOUR have all been Rolex Junior Players of the Year.
- Nick Dunlap - 2021 Rolex Junior Player of the Year, won 2024 The American Express
- Phil Mickelson - 1986,1987,1988 Rolex Junior Player of the Year, won 1991 Northern Telecom Open
- Scott Verplank - 1982 Rolex Junior Player of the Year, won 1985 Western Open
In Dunlap's opening round, he carded a 8-under-par 64. He followed-up the next day with a bogey-free second round to bring his tournament total to 15-under-par 129. Continuing on this momentum, in the third round, Dunlap carded an impressive 12-under-par 60, a feat only accomplished by one other amateur on the PGA TOUR. This bogey-free round was highlighted by 10 birdies and an eagle on the par-5 No. 6. Heading into the final 18 holes on Sunday, Dunlap held a three-stroke lead. The pressure continued to build but Dunlap remained focused. His final round started off steady as he recorded four consecutive pars before finding his first birdie of the day on No. 5. Things took a slight turn on No. 7 where he recorded his first double bogey of the tournament. Dunlap did not let this bother him as he followed-up with a bridie on No. 8. Dunlap finished out his round at 2-under-par 70 to secure his first PGA TOUR win by one-stroke.
Dunlap's win makes him at the 219th AJGA alum to win a PGA TOUR event and only the second PGA TOUR champion to be born in the 2000s. The other is fellow AJGA alum, Akshay Bhatia.
In his junior golf career, the 2021 Rolex Junior Player of the Year played in AJGA events from 2017 to 2020 before committing to play golf at the University of Alabama. The two-time Rolex Junior All-American was also a Wyndham Cup East team member and won the 2021 Polo Golf Junior Classic at Liberty National.