Nick Dunlap’s third round was the lowest carded by an amateur in the last 12 years. The 20-year-old is making a name for himself courtesy of his impressive performance at the American Express event. With his win, the golfer will write his name alongside golf greats such as Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. Much of his success can be attributed to his bagman.
Accompanying Nick Dunlap at the LA Quinta is a former pro golfer and a University of Alabama alumni. Meet the 34-year-old former pro turned caddie behind the rising star of the PGA Tour.
The early life of Nick Dunlap’s caddie, Hunter Hamrick
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Hunter Hamrick’s story began in 1990. The 34-year-old caddie was born in Montgomery, Alabama. He is the only son of his parents, Gail Green Hamrick (mother) and William Hamrick (father). Hamrick started playing golf early in his life.
As the loved child of his family, Hamrick was extremely influenced by his parents’ choices. In 2011, right before he joined the University of Alabama, he revealed his love for the University arose because of his parents. Hamrick detailed that his father went to school in Alabama and his parents were always Alabama fans.
Thus, Hamrick came to love all sports played by the University and chose it as his choice to continue his education. At the University of Alabama, Hamrick became the ace for his team. He started his academic year in 2009 and graduated in 2012.
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Before that, he played golf with Montgomery Academy. At the age of 16, Hamrick participated in the 2006 U.S. Amateur. Moreover, after a year, he won three individual state events and five team events, including the 2007 Blue-Grey High School Invitational.
During his time at the Crimson Tide (the golf team of the University of Alabama), Hamrick became the captain of the team for the 2011–2012 season. Around which the Crimson Tide was also a runner-up for the NCAA Men’s Golf Championships. He was also named the All-Time Southeastern Conference Champion (2010 and 2012). The year was when Justin Thomas was a freshman. And as per Thomas, they were past best friends.
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After completing his degree in business management in 2012, Hamrick turned his full attention to golf. He turned pro in 2012. During his eight years of pro career, Hamrick played in various leagues like the Korn Ferry Tour (formerly known as the Web.com Tour), the PGA Tour Latin America, the PGA Tour Canada, and the Canada Mackenzie Tour (the Forme Tour).
The falling pro career of Hunter Hamrick
Professionally, Hamrick could not replicate his amateur record. Unfortunately, he did not win any events on the PGA Tour or in any other league. The best finish for Hamrick on the PGA Tour was at the 2012 U.S. Open. He finished 46th and earned a check for nearly $32,000. However, after many attempts at a pro career, Hamrick retired.
In around 2021, Hamrick changed his career trajectory. Hamrick still chose golf as his line of work. The University of Alabama appointed Hamrick as the assistant coach for the Crimson Tide in 2021.
While joining the team for the 2021–22 season under coach Jay Seawell, who once coached him, Hamrick displayed pleasure and said, “I am grateful and excited to be back and a part of the program.” He was extremely appreciative of this opportunity, though his tenure as the assistant coach could not last long.
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After serving two years with the Crimson Tide, he eventually parted ways with the university in July 2023. Hamrick cited a new career opportunity as the reason for his leaving the team. According to his LinkedIn, he started working as an account executive for an insurance company in Florida.
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However, his career path had taken him back to golf once again. At the American Express, Hamrick is caddying for Nick Dunlap for the first time. But as seen by the remarkable run of the two, it might not be Hamrick’s last stint as a caddie. Hamrick, being an Alabama alum, looked like the perfect choice for Dunlap, who has been trained under Hamrick.
The two are doing wonders as a team and writing a new history for the PGA Tour amateurs. Apart from professional life, Hamrick is a pet dad to three dogs: Rooney, Baron, and Prince. He married his teenage love, Makenzie James, in February 2020. The couple will be celebrating their fourth anniversary in a couple of days.
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With the help of his family and friends he has made through his golf journey, Hamrick may win his first PGA Tour victory as a caddie and make the name for himself that he always wished for and wanted.
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