Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Dunlap Becomes First Player in PGA Tour History to Win as an Amateur and a Pro in the Same Year
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 5 months ago on
July 22, 2024

Nick Dunlap became the first player in PGA Tour history to win as an amateur and a professional in the same year, rallying Sunday for a two-point victory in the Barracuda Championship. (Shutterstock)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

TRUCKEE — Nick Dunlap became the first player in PGA Tour history to win as an amateur and a professional in the same year, rallying Sunday for a two-point victory in the Barracuda Championship.

In January at The American Express in La Quinta, the 20-year-old Dunlap — then a sophomore at the University of Alabama — became the eighth amateur to win a tour event and the first in 33 years. He turned professional days later.

“I never thought that I would have my name next to that, but it’s definitely an honor,” Dunlap said about the amateur-pro double. “It’s been a little tough after AmEx. You kind of lose a little bit of confidence and wonder if you can do it again.”

Dunlap Takes Lead With Eagle on 15th

On Sunday at Tahoe Mountain Club in the only PGA Tour event that uses the modified Stableford scoring system, Dunlap took the lead with a 55-foot eagle putt on the par-5 15th.

Players receive eight points for a double eagle, five for eagle and two for birdie. A point is deducted for bogey and three for double bogey.

“I hadn’t made an eagle yet this week, so that was kind of the goal, and just play aggressive, not reckless,” Dunlap said. “This course, it allows you to make a lot of birdies if you’re in position.”

Dunlap added a birdie on the par-4 17th, cutting the dogleg with a 304-yard drive and chipping to 3 feet.

Dunlap Rallies From Nine Points Behind

Nine points behind leader Mac Meissner entering the day, Dunlap had 19 points in the bogey-free round to finish with 49. He birdied six of the first 12 holes on the tree-lined Old Greenwood course.

“The only sour thing about this is that winning moment goes quickly,” Dunlap said. “It doesn’t stay as long as you may think, just because tomorrow I’m flying to Minnesota and trying to repeat and do the exact same thing.”

Vince Whaley finished second, making a 17-foot birdie putt on par-4 18th for a nine-point day.

“I didn’t hit it very good the whole day and I kind of kept myself in it with the short game,” Whaley said. “Then missed a couple I felt like I could have made coming in.”

Patrick Fishburn had 46 points, holing a 10-footer for birdie on 18 to cap a 12-point round.

“It was a great week,” Fishburn said. “This is probably one of my favorite stops of the year.”

Meissner was fourth at 44. He closed a five-point round with a bogey.

“I’m definitely pretty bummed,” Meissner said. “It was a frustrating day. I had a couple good looks early for birdie through the first 10 holes and didn’t capitalize. It was just tough.”

Taylor Pendrith and Patrick Rodgers tied for fifth at 43.

Dunlap Jumps to 63rd in FedEx Cup Standings

With two events left in the regular season, Dunlap jumped from 95th to 63rd in the FedEx Cup standings. The top 70 will advance to the playoffs.

“It’s been a goal,” Dunlap said. “It’s, honestly, one of the reasons I played here.”

 

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Fresno State Hires New Offensive Coordinator, Keeps John Baxter

DON'T MISS

Cats Can Get Sick With Bird Flu. Here’s How to Protect Them.

DON'T MISS

Who Is Making a Difference in Fresno? Explore This List of 2024’s Shining Stars

DON'T MISS

Americans Spend Like the Party Will Never End, but US Deficit Could Trigger Crash

DON'T MISS

Got a Ticket? Friday’s Mega Millions Climbs to $1.15 Billion

DON'T MISS

Your College Football Team, Now Brought to You by Whiskey

DON'T MISS

Most Medical Debt Can’t Hurt Your Credit Score Under New CA Law

DON'T MISS

Dead Body Is Found in Wheel Well of United Airlines Plane After Landing

DON'T MISS

AI Is a Game Changer for Students With Disabilities. Schools Are Still Learning to Harness It

DON'T MISS

Israeli ‘Earthquake’ Missile Strikes in Syria Register on the Richter Scale

UP NEXT

Cats Can Get Sick With Bird Flu. Here’s How to Protect Them.

UP NEXT

Americans Spend Like the Party Will Never End, but US Deficit Could Trigger Crash

UP NEXT

Got a Ticket? Friday’s Mega Millions Climbs to $1.15 Billion

UP NEXT

Your College Football Team, Now Brought to You by Whiskey

UP NEXT

Most Medical Debt Can’t Hurt Your Credit Score Under New CA Law

UP NEXT

Dead Body Is Found in Wheel Well of United Airlines Plane After Landing

UP NEXT

AI Is a Game Changer for Students With Disabilities. Schools Are Still Learning to Harness It

UP NEXT

Israeli ‘Earthquake’ Missile Strikes in Syria Register on the Richter Scale

UP NEXT

Israeli Attorney General Orders Probe Into Report That Alleged Netanyahu’s Wife Harassed Opponents

UP NEXT

What Is Known About a Plane Crash in Kazakhstan as Experts Suspect Russian Air Defense Fire

Americans Spend Like the Party Will Never End, but US Deficit Could Trigger Crash

11 hours ago

Got a Ticket? Friday’s Mega Millions Climbs to $1.15 Billion

11 hours ago

Your College Football Team, Now Brought to You by Whiskey

13 hours ago

Most Medical Debt Can’t Hurt Your Credit Score Under New CA Law

14 hours ago

Dead Body Is Found in Wheel Well of United Airlines Plane After Landing

14 hours ago

AI Is a Game Changer for Students With Disabilities. Schools Are Still Learning to Harness It

14 hours ago

Israeli ‘Earthquake’ Missile Strikes in Syria Register on the Richter Scale

14 hours ago

Israeli Attorney General Orders Probe Into Report That Alleged Netanyahu’s Wife Harassed Opponents

14 hours ago

What Is Known About a Plane Crash in Kazakhstan as Experts Suspect Russian Air Defense Fire

14 hours ago

New York to Charge Fossil Fuel Companies for Damage From Climate Change

14 hours ago

Fresno State Hires New Offensive Coordinator, Keeps John Baxter

Fresno State football head coach Matt Entz announced on Thursday that he’s bringing in Josh Davis as the new offensive coordinator whi...

10 hours ago

10 hours ago

Fresno State Hires New Offensive Coordinator, Keeps John Baxter

10 hours ago

Cats Can Get Sick With Bird Flu. Here’s How to Protect Them.

10 hours ago

Who Is Making a Difference in Fresno? Explore This List of 2024’s Shining Stars

11 hours ago

Americans Spend Like the Party Will Never End, but US Deficit Could Trigger Crash

Mega Millions ticket buyer
11 hours ago

Got a Ticket? Friday’s Mega Millions Climbs to $1.15 Billion

Ole Smoky Moonshine
13 hours ago

Your College Football Team, Now Brought to You by Whiskey

14 hours ago

Most Medical Debt Can’t Hurt Your Credit Score Under New CA Law

14 hours ago

Dead Body Is Found in Wheel Well of United Airlines Plane After Landing

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend