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Nick Dunlap tears of joy after his victory: “It was so cool”

Photo: Ryan Sun / AP

The American Nick Dunlap became the first amateur golfer since Phil Mickelson 33 years ago to win a tournament on the PGA Tour.

The 20-year-old University of Alabama student won on Sunday by one stroke over Christiaan Bezuidenhout in La Quinta, California.

Dunlap is only the third amateur since 1957 to win a professional tournament.

"I've never felt anything like this," Dunlap said.

»It was so cool to experience that as an amateur.«

With 29 strokes under par, the reigning amateur champion broke the tournament record, and he is also the youngest amateur to win on the PGA Tour since 1910. Whether he will remain an amateur as a student or switch to the PGA Tour and become a professional is unclear his parents have not yet decided.

He is definitely eligible to play for the Masters and the US Open.

phw/dpa