Twenty-year-old Nick Dunlap, the college student who won a professional PGA Tour tournament for the first time in 33 years as an amateur, is making the transition to the professional circuit. As a result, he will not have to lose a check for 1.4 million euros twice. “But it’s the hardest decision he’s ever had to make.”
I WAIT. Dunlap breaks down in tears over the victory
Dunlap, a University of Alabama sophomore, was able to compete last weekend in La Quinta thanks to an invitation from a sponsor. He excelled in the third round with sixty strokes, twelve under par, and took the lead in the tournament. On the last day, a round of seventy shots on the eighteen holes was enough to maintain the leading position. He finished at 29 under par, one stroke behind Christiaan Bezuidenhout.
Nick Dunlap with his parents Charlene and Jim, girlfriend Isabella and coach Jay Seawell. © Getty Images via AFP
Dunlap couldn’t cope with his emotions. “This is really cool. As an amateur. I’ve never heard this before. When his parents Jim and Charlene and girlfriend Isabella came onto the pitch, he burst into tears. It was just too good to be true.
I WAIT. Dunlap scores the decisive point for the win
PGA TOUR @PGATOUR
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Dunlap was the first amateur to win a PGA Tour tournament since Phil Mickelson in 1991 (with the Tuscon Open). And it was that amateur status that also caused some unpleasant news. In the euphoria it emerged that Dunlap is not entitled to the winner’s check of 1.51 million dollars (1.4 million euros). After all, in the United States, student athletes are not allowed to earn money from their sports. The amount then went to number two. In Bezuidenhout, of course.
A touch for Dunlap, who works in the Finance department. In order not to repeat this experience and make his dream come true, he has now made an important decision. He moves on to professional status. As a result, he finishes his studies at the University of Alabama. “This was the hardest decision he’s ever had to make,” he said during a news conference Thursday. He would make his professional debut next week in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. Now he has risen to 68th place in the world rankings. Adidas and True Temper are already among his sponsors. Now there will be many more.
I WAIT. Dunlap’s fellow students go crazy
PGA TOUR @PGATOUR
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© Getty Images via AFP
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2024-01-25 19:02:00
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