Dunlap hoping to be PGA Tour's first amateur winner since '91 - ESPN

LA QUINTA, Calif. — University of Alabama sophomore Nick Dunlap fired a 12-under 60 to take a three-shot lead over Sam Burns at The American Express on Saturday, matching the lowest round by an amateur in PGA Tour history and surging into position for the first victory by a non-professional in 33 years.

Justin Thomas shot 61 and was four shots back of the 20-year-old Dunlap, who tore up La Quinta Country Club and moved to 27-under 189 on the Coachella Valley tournament's three generous courses.

With 10 birdies and an eagle in his aggressive, accurate round, Dunlap matched then-amateur Patrick Cantlay's 60 at the 2011 Travelers Championship. Dunlap's score to par was the best ever by an amateur; Cantlay was 10 under at par-70 TPC River Highlands.

Nick Dunlap is seeking to be the fifth amateur to win a PGA Tour event since 1940 and the first since Phil Mickelson in 1991:

«The putter felt so good,» Dunlap said. «The hole looked like a funnel.»

Only seven amateurs have won on the PGA Tour since 1945, and only four since 1950. The last to do it was Phil Mickelson, who won the Tucson Open in 1991 as a 20-year-old Arizona State junior.

Dunlap is the first amateur to hold a 54-hole lead on the PGA Tour since Paul Dunne at the 2015 Open Championship. Dunne shared the lead with Jason Day and Louis Oosthuizen entering the final round but shot 78 on Sunday to finish T-30th.

Burns led after two rounds, but Dunlap flew past him while playing a couple of hours earlier. Burns shot a steady 65 on the Stadium Course to stay in contention after taking the lead with his career-low 61 on Friday.

The final round will be played Sunday on the Stadium Course, where Thomas tied the course record on Saturday.

«I think it's going to be hard either