Grew up about 100 yards from No. 6 (a long, uphill par 5) at Greystone Golf and Country Club in Birmingham, Alabama. In the evenings, Dunlap would go to the fairway and hit wedges.

Was a high-level baseball and football player. As a third grader in the 8-to-9-year-old age group, was a finalist for the NFL Punt, Pass & Kick competition and went to the NFC Championship game in 2012.

Won the 2024 American Express, becoming the first amateur to win a PGA TOUR event since Phil Mickelson at the 1991 Northern Telecom Open. Became the second-youngest winner on TOUR in the last 90 years, and the only player to win the U.S. Junior Amateur, the U.S. Amateur and a PGA TOUR event as an amateur.

Rose to No. 1 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking following his historic victory at the 2024 American Express; he was credited with two weeks as the No. 1 player in WAGR, as he ceded his place in the ranking upon turning professional shortly after his PGA TOUR win.

Burst onto the national golf landscape with victories at the 2021 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship and 2023 U.S. Amateur Championship, following Tiger Woods as the second player in history to win both titles. Won the 2021 U.S. Junior Amateur at The Country Club of North Carolina. Path to victory at the 2023 U.S. Amateur, contested at Cherry Hills Country Club, included wins over Gordon Sargent (Round of 64), Jackson Koivun (Quarterfinals), and Neal Shipley (Championship).

Played the 2022-23 season and the fall portion of the 2023-24 season at University of Alabama. Forewent his remaining collegiate eligibility, turned professional, and accepted PGA TOUR membership shortly after winning the 2024 American Express. In his short stint at Alabama, earned two individual victories and a 2023 All-America Second Team honor.

As a freshman at Alabama, posted the second-lowest single-season scoring average in program history (70.35 for the 2022-23 season), only behind Robby Shelton (70.14 for the 2013-14 season) and notably ahead of Justin Thomas (70.44 for the 2011-12 season).

Notable amateur victories included a win at the 123rd North & South Amateur in 2023; he defeated David Ford in the quarterfinals and Karl Vilips in the championship match. The North & South Amateur is contested annually at Pinehurst, with match play competition taking place on the famed No. 2 course. Notable past champions of the event include Luke Clanton (2022), Davis Love III (1984), Corey Pavin (1981), Hal Sutton (1980), Curtis Strange (1975, 1976), and Jack Nicklaus (1959).

Led Team USA to victory at the 2023 World Team Amateur Championship at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club. Dunlap carded four rounds in the 60s as he finished second individually (one stroke behind New Zealand's Kazuma Kobori). Team USA -- which also featured Gordon Sargent (T5) and David Ford (T5) -- won the team title by 11 strokes for its first Eisenhower Trophy since 2014, when Beau Hossler, Denny McCarthy, and Bryson DeChambeau comprised the victorious American squad.

Represented the United States at the 2023 Walker Cup; his American teammates included David Ford, Austin Greaser, Gordon Sargent, and Preston Summerhays.

Named the 2021 AJGA Rolex Junior Player of the Year. Past winners of the award include Akshay Bhatia (2018), Sam Burns (2014), Scottie Scheffler (2013), Jordan Spieth (2009), Brian Harman (2003, 2004), Tiger Woods (1991, 1992), and David Duval (1989).

In 2021, posted runner-up finishes at The Junior PLAYERS Championship (won by Ben James) and Junior PGA Championship (at Valhalla Golf Club).