PINEHURST, N.C. – There are two defending champions right here at Pinehurst No. 2 this week: Wyndham Clark, final summer season’s U.S. Open champion at LACC, and Nick Dunlap, who captured the North and South Novice final July.
Dunlap definitely has historical past round this golf-crazed city. He additionally gained the 2021 U.S. Junior Novice at close by Nation Membership of North Carolina.
“For no matter purpose, I play good in North Carolina,” stated Dunlap, who notes that he doesn’t have to make use of navigation in Pinehurst, figuring out his approach round like its house, and plans to frequent his favourite meals spot, CharBar, once more this week. The one distinction this week is No. 2 is taking part in firmer, fasters and about 500 yards longer than it did final summer season.
“Good vibes,” Dunlap added. “… Simply offers you a bit of further consolation while you’re on the golf course.”
It’s been an uncomfortable first few months as a professional for the 20-year-old Dunlap, who gained The American Categorical as an newbie in late January, a victory that prompted the previous Alabama sophomore to forfeit his remaining eligibility and switch skilled only a few days later. He completed final in his professional debut at Pebble Seashore, and in 12 begins now taking part in for cash, Dunlap has simply two top-20s.
A kind of finishes, nonetheless, was a T-12 finally week’s Memorial Match, a limited-field signature occasion.
“I’m slowly studying methods to play a few of these very troublesome golf programs that demand loads,” Dunlap stated. “It takes numerous me. There’s numerous endurance that goes with that that I’ve needed to be taught on the highway a bit of bit. … Actually, probably the most irritating factor is that I’ve needed to understand that I can’t assault pins with sand wedges generally.”
That, and the truth that Dunlap couldn’t be there for his former Crimson Tide teammates, who bowed out in NCAA regionals as a No. 2 seed. Previous to Dunlap’s sudden spring leap to the professionals, he was the top-ranked participant within the nation and Alabama on a brief checklist of NCAA title contenders.
The Tide rallied as excessive as sixth within the nation post-Dunlap, successful as soon as, however finally they by no means made it to the NCAA Championship at La Costa, the place their bitter rival, Auburn, lifted the NCAA staff title.
Whereas Dunlap had the total assist of his teammates, he’s sincere about how he nonetheless feels, now months after his troublesome selection to show professional.
“I don’t assume that call’s gotten any simpler, to be sincere with you,” Dunlap stated. “It was robust for me to see them miss, particularly in the best way it occurred. [Caddie] Hunter [Hamrick, a former Alabama assistant] and I have been watching [the live scoring of regionals] just about – I believe it was Wednesday of Valhalla. … We have been watching that each one day. It sucked as a result of I believe everyone had sort of counted them out for the 12 months nearly, gave Auburn a run for his or her cash at SEC. They performed nice at regionals. I believe they performed very nice truthfully since AmEx.
“However, no, I nonetheless in a approach really feel unhealthy. I really feel like I left them hanging. Would have beloved to be with them at regionals and NCAAs the week after.”
