Clarkston’s Dahmen grabs share of first-round lead

Clarkston High senior Joel Dahmen is a good golfer and apparently a good listener, too.

“My dad’s been telling me since I was 9 years old that you can’t win (a tournament) on the first day, but you can lose it,” Dahmen said. “So it was just about not making big numbers, take the birdies when they come and don’t force anything.”

That approach served Dahmen well Tuesday as he shot 66 at Indian Canyon to share the State 3A boys tournament lead with Timberline’s Cameron Peck heading into today’s final round. Hanford’s Josh Harvey is one shot back at 5-under. He’ll join Dahmen and Peck in the final threesome, which tees off at 9:44.

O’Dea’s Cory Mehl and Bainbridge’s Austin Hurt both shot 69.

In the 3A girls tournament at MeadowWood, Seattle Prep freshman Katrina Hegge shattered the course record with a 6-under 66. Mount Rainier’s Stephanie Corey shot 69, which would have equaled the previous course record shot by Kristen Svicarovich in 2002.

“I just played really loose,” said Hegge, who had 32 on the back nine. “I didn’t play against anybody, just against the course.”

Yelm’s Beth Stonecypher, who played with Hegge and Corey, was disqualified for signing an incorrect scorecard. She shot 73, but signed for 72, the confusion stemming from a triple bogey on 18 that was recorded as a double bogey. Stonecypher apparently discovered the error about four hours after her round and had her coach phone tournament officials.

“The girl went up a notch in my book,” MeadowWood pro Bob Scott said.

Dahmen, who won a state title as a freshman and finished second last year, shot 32 on the front nine and remained at 4-under until the 16th, where he made a short birdie putt.

He added another birdie at 17, but saw his 6-foot birdie putt on 18 slide by on the right side. His only bogey came at the par-3 11th when his tee shot landed pin high, but spun back off the green.

“I had to fight myself in the middle of the round to stay patient,” said Dahmen, who shot 61 in the district tournament last week at Indian Canyon to set the course record. “It was a pretty relaxing, solid day.”

Dahmen ruffled a few feathers when he occasionally jogged over after another member of his group shot to check out the player’s bag to determine what club he was using.

Dahmen said it “secures my thoughts” if the other player hits clubs roughly the same distance.

“You can’t touch their equipment and you can’t ask them what they’re hitting,” Dahmen said. “Apparently one of the parents didn’t like it very much, but she didn’t know the rule.”

Dahmen seemed at ease, striping his drives and munching on sunflower seeds as he walked the fairways.

“He doesn’t get too wound up,” Clarkston coach Brian Frazier said, “and that’s when he plays his best.”

Hegge’s scorecard had only one 5 – on the par-5 16th. She had birdies at Nos. 2, 11, 12, 14 and 17. She made a 25-foot putt for eagle at No. 7. Her lone bogey came when she missed the green at the par-3 eighth and failed to get up and down.

Hegge, who shot 62 at Jefferson Park in Seattle last fall in a non-tournament round, tees off at 9:48 this morning.

Bellingham is well positioned to earn its fifth consecutive team title.