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Alabama Golfer Nick Dunlap Holds Solo Lead at The American Express

Dunlap could become the first amateur to win on the PGA Tour in over three decades, but he will have to hold Crimson Tide golf alum Justin Thomas in the final round.

Katie Windham

Alabama Golfer Nick Dunlap Holds Solo Lead at The American Express
Alabama Golfer Nick Dunlap Holds Solo Lead at The American Express /

Alabama sophomore golfer Nick Dunlap lit up the amateur golf world over the offseason, winning the 2023 U.S. Amateur Championship and representing the United States in the 2023 Walker Cup. 

Now, he's making his name known on the professional stage. After three rounds at The American Express in La Quinta, California, Dunlap holds the solo lead at 27-under-par. He holds a three-stroke lead over Sam Burns heading into the final round. 

If Dunlap is able to hold on to his lead on Sunday, he would become the first amateur to win on the PGA Tour since Phil Mickelson in 1991. 

Dunlap moved two spots up the leaderboard on Saturday after shooting a bogey-free 60 (12-under-par) in the third round. He has been hot from the start. In the opening round on Thursday, Dunlap shot a 64 and a 65 in the second round. 

He is just the second amateur every to shoot a 60 at a PGA Tour event. 

While Dunlap is the only current Alabama golfer in the field, he isn't the only Crimson Tide representation at The American Express. Former Alabama golfer Justin Thomas is in third place close behind Dunlap after three rounds at 23-under-par.

Thomas went on a tear on the back nine Saturday afternoon, birdying holes 12 through 17. He also had a bogey-free round of 61. 

Even while competing on his own for PGA an international events, Dunlap still competed with the Alabama golf team in the fall. He played in three of their four fall tournaments, finishing among the top eight individuals in each tournament.

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Katie Windham
KATIE WINDHAM

Katie Windham is the assistant editor for BamaCentral, primarily covering football, basketball gymnastics and softball. She is a two-time graduate of the University of Alabama and has covered a variety of Crimson Tide athletics since 2019 for outlets like The Tuscaloosa News, The Crimson White and the Associated Press before joining BamaCentral full time in 2021. Windham has covered College Football Playoff games, the Women's College World Series, NCAA March Madness, SEC Tournaments and championships in multiple sports. 

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