Nick Dunlap began 2024 as a sophomore on the Alabama men’s golf team. He’s ending the year as the winner of the Arnold Palmer Award, which is presented annually to the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year.

The PGA Tour announced the winner of the award on Thursday.

On Jan. 21, Dunlap won the American Express to become the first amateur since 1991 to capture a PGA Tour event.

After accepting the automatic membership on the PGA Tour that came with the victory, Dunlap became the first player to win as an amateur and a professional on the circuit in the same season when he won again at the Barracuda Championship on July 21.

The former Spain Park High School standout became the second-youngest PGA Tour Rookie of the Year. At 20 years, 11 months old, Dunlap is nine months older than Jordan Spieth when he won the award in 2013.

“On behalf of the PGA Tour, congratulations to Nick Dunlap on being named PGA Tour Rookie of the Year,” said Jay Monahan, the PGA Tour commissioner, in a press release. “Nick carved out his place in the PGA Tour record book. To begin 2024 as a collegiate golfer and end it with two PGA Tour victories and among the top 50 players in the FedExCup is truly impressive.”

Dunlap qualified for the FedExCup at No. 67 in the points standings. After finishing in a fifth-place tie at the St. Jude Championship, he advanced in the playoffs and wound up at No. 49 in the standings, with the top 50 golfers qualifying for the PGA Tour’s Signature Events in 2025.

The Arnold Palmer Award winner is determined by a vote of PGA Tour members who played in at least 15 tournaments during the 2024 season.

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.