Nick Dunlap (20), a second-year student at Alabama University in the U.S., has won an amateur championship for the first time in 33 years on the PGA Tour.
Dunlap shot a 2-under-par 70 with four birdies and a double bogey in the final round of the tournament at PGA West Stadium Course (par 72) in Lakinta, California on the 22nd, winning by one stroke over Christian Bejuidenhout (28-under 260) of South Africa.
Dunlap, who won the U.S. Amateur Championship last year and participated in the event at the invitation of a sponsor, became the first amateur player to win the PGA Tour in 33 years since Phil Mickelson of the U.S., who won the Northern Telecom Open in January 1991.
Dunlap, who took the lead in the second round and kept a three-shot lead until the third round, made his first birdie at the fifth hole (par 5), but allowed him to chase after his tee shot at the seventh hole (par 4). Dunlap, who added three birdies to the 16th hole and tied for the lead with Sam Burns of the U.S. in the same group, became the lone lead with a double bogey at the 17th hole, and won a thrilling victory over the bogey crisis at the 18th hole. Bejuiden Hout, who finished the game first, followed him by a one-shot lead and expected overtime, but Dunlap got on the green at the 18th hole (par 4) three times and scored a par putt of about 1 meter to keep his win.
After the winning putt, Dunlap clenched his fist and cheered, and received congratulations by hugging Justin Thomas (USA), a senior at Alabama University who competed for the same group.
Thomas added a birdie on the last hole and finished joint third (27-under 261), while Sam Burns also added a double bogey on the 18th hole and fell to joint sixth (25-under 263).
Kim, who tied for fifth until the previous day, lost one shot at Hole 17 (par 3) and quadruple bogey to tie for 25th (19 under par 269). Im Sung-jae and Lee Kyung-hoon also finished joint 25th.
BY: 스포츠토토
