The final pairing off the first tee during Thursday’s opening round featured a glimpse at the game’s future.
First is Sam Bennett, the recent Texas A&M grad who won the 2022 U.S. Amateur. Then there’s Fred Biondi, the 2023 NCAA individual champion from Florida who turned professional this summer. Then there’s Nick Dunlap, the best amateur in golf this summer who won the 2023 U.S. Amateur at Cherry Hills Country Club outside of Denver.
And for Dunlap, a sophomore at Alabama, he got off to a hot start.
Dunlap was on his 17th hole when the horn went off. He was 3 under through 16. The 17th, a par 5, is playing as the easiest hole in the first round.