Nick Dunlap made a 20-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole to ensure a dramatic come-from-behind victory on Saturday in the Northeast Amateur Invitational at Wannamoisett Country Club in Rumford, Rhode Island. This was the second of seven tournaments in the summer-long Elite Amateur Golf Series.
Fresh off a stellar freshman campaign playing for his home-state Alabama Crimson Tide, Dunlap qualified for the U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club and figured it would be too difficult to travel across the country to play in the Northeast Am less than a week after his major appearance. A few of his friends talked him into it, however, and Dunlap is glad they did.
“I had a couple of guys convince me, and I heard the golf course is really good,” Dunlap told the Rhode Island Golf Association. “This tournament was unbelievable. I’m glad I went and played. It’s a marvelous place. I love Northeast golf. You’ve got to be creative, and it’s a special venue.”
Dunlap, the 2021 U.S. Junior Am winner and the No. 1 recruit in the country for the class of 2022, opened the tournament 68-67 to rest four strokes behind leader Caleb Surratt. Despite following that with a 6-under 63 on the unique par-69 layout, Dunlap was still three strokes back of Surratt – Tennessee’s superb rising sophomore and a likely U.S. Walker Cupper – when the final round began.
Surratt gave little hope to Dunlap and other pursuers in the first 11 holes, making two birdies and nine pars to extend his lead to four strokes. But in the middle of the back nine, Surratt started battling a faulty driver and gave over control of the tournament to Dunlap.
After Surratt made back-to-back bogeys on Nos. 12 and 13, momentum flowed even more heavily in Dunlap’s direction on the drivable par-4 14th hole. Dunlap drove the green ahead of Surratt, who blocked his drive into a penalty area. The entire gallery searched for Surratt’s ball but came up empty.
Surratt took his penalty stroke and pitched on, settling for a bogey, and Dunlap two-putted for birdie. That tied the score with four holes remaining.
Both players parred the ensuing three holes, but Surratt once again found trouble on the closing par-4 18th and had to scramble to give himself a look at par. Before he had a chance to putt, Dunlap drained his birdie effort and let out a loud roar, finishing at 12-under 264. Surratt missed his par attempt, settling for solo second at 10-under 266.
“I didn’t think (Surratt) was going to miss (the par putt),” Dunlap said. “I got a window and was able to capitalize on it.”
“I’ve got one more week on the road, but that’s all summer and I enjoy traveling, meeting new people, going to new places, new golf courses.”
Nick Dunlap
It was a disappointing end to the week for Surratt, who came into the week at No. 8 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. He won the Elite Amateur Golf Series a year ago and took advantage of the PGA Tour exemption he received by making the cut last fall in the Butterfield Bermuda Championship, his first of three tour starts. He won twice in his freshman year, including at the Southeastern Conference Championship.
“Nick’s an amazing player who you can’t give shots to,” Surratt said. “He’s going to be very successful on the PGA Tour, and he’s going to be around for a long time. I’m just going to try to stay in company with him.”
Dunlap came into the week at No. 25 in the WAGR and is still in the discussion for a Walker Cup selection. He won the Linger Longer Invitational in the spring before a fourth-place finish in the NCAA Norman Regional and a tie for 11th in the NCAA Championship.
He is yet another example of a young American collegiate golfer becoming one of the top amateurs in the game. In addition to Dunlap and Surratt, Luke Clanton, who recently completed a standout freshman year at Florida State after winning the NCAA Morgan Hill Regional, finished solo third at the Northeast. Clanton came into the week No. 14 in the WAGR and recently had a top-five in the Sunnehanna Amateur.
Dunlap is now headed to Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina for the third Elite Amateur Golf Series event, the North & South Amateur. It will be his third consecutive tournament, but Dunlap could be chasing something special if he continues to play well.
“I’ve got one more week on the road,” Dunlap said, “but that’s all summer and I enjoy traveling, meeting new people, going to new places, new golf courses.”
RESULTS
Sean Fairholm