Scott

Dunlap

Dunlap was dogged by a stomach ailment in between his first and second rounds of last week’s Mayakoba. It forced him to withdraw after just 18 holes. While fully exempt on the PGA TOUR via Q School, he’s already making his second appearance in as many events on the developmental circuit. (He’s 0-for-4 to start his year on the PGA TOUR.) Look for him in Puerto Rico next week.

Dunlap was scheduled to go off the first tee at 7:10 a.m. local time. The veteran opened with a 9-over-par 40-40=80. He hit nine greens, took 33 putts and swallowed six bogeys and a triple. He’s scheduled to compete in next week’s Panama Claro Championship on the Nationwide Tour. He missed the cut in the developmental circuit’s season opener in Colombia.

Dunlap was the second alternate when the field was released on Friday afternoon. He gained entry when John Huh withdrew. Dunlap finished T73 at last week’s Valero Texas Open with his first payday in six starts this year. He hasn’t cashed in consecutive starts on the PGA TOUR since 2002.

Dunlap’s lone payday was a T73 at the Valero Texas Open where his first-round 72 was his best of the week. He’s currently giving back 1.277 strokes per round with the putter to go with only being able to find the dance floor in regulation 57.72 percent of the time. Things in both of those categories need to improve dramatically if he’s to contend at the TPC River Highlands.

Dunlap is positioned for his first top 10 of the season after giving back just one bogey to CordeValle Golf Club and more than erasing it with two birdies. The biggest reason for his success this week has been his ability to avoid bogeys. He has just two for the week. With just $108,266 in earnings to date, Dunlap almost needs a win at this point if he hopes to avoid a trip to Q School.

This has feel-good story written all over it. Dunlap, who turned 49 years of age in August, not only sits five strokes back of the 36-hole lead -- he’s 9-under 133 -- but today’s score is his career low on the PGA TOUR. This is his 202nd start dating back to his debut in 1992. He split 11 (of 14) fairways, hit 15 greens and needed only 25 putts. It was a so-so round until he made the turn after which he rattled off seven birdies. His most notable birdies dropped in from six yards off the green at the fifth hole and via traditional rolls of 12'7" and 16'8" at Nos. 17 and 18, respectively. Oh, he arrived at the event ranked 203rd on the money list, so his timing for today’s personal best was perfect.

The veteran has made just $108,266 this season, seeing the weekend just seven times in 16 starts. He may have found something lately, as he tied for fifth in last week’s Chiquita Classic on the Web.com Tour. He has also made the cut in each of his last five PGA TOUR starts. Stats suggest that his ball-striking has been steady this season, but his 185th Strokes Gained-Putting ranking has all but erased chances at high finishes.

Dunlap began the week 189th on the money list, so his hot play is a welcomed surprise. Starting his day on the 10th hole, all five of his birdies dropped from outside of 10 feet, with a 41-foot effort on the par-5 14th the highlight. He surrendered his lone bogey on his final hole. At this point, a high finish on Sunday that would move him inside the top 150 in cash would make for a successful tournament.

Dunlap has been playing on the Nationwide Tour this season and he won the Panama Movistar Championship at the start of the season. His best finish at the AT&T Classic is a T-6 in 2005.

The journeyman shot 1-over-par 75-70=145, finishing five strokes too high to join a playoff for the final two spots. Andrew Johnston (66-74=140) and Simon Lilly (70-70) survived a 4-for-2 playoff. Craig Hinton was the medalist at 5-under 69-70=139. All three qualifiers will be making their first start in the major. The only other notable that failed to qualify was 14-time British Open veteran, Paul Broadhurst (143).