Clarkston’s Dahmen two shots behind

Clarkston High’s Joel Dahmen said he putted defensively, his swing was “terrible” and he had a brief meltdown on the back nine Wednesday at the State 3A golf tournament at The Creek at Qualchan.

Of course, he grades himself on a steep curve.

Dahmen was far from flawless, but managed a 1-under par 71 that kept him in the hunt for the individual title. He trails Bellevue’s Ryan Dolbow by two shots and Hanford’s Alex Moore by one. Dahmen is one of five players at 71. Defending champion Chris Killmer of Bellingham shot 74.

“I’ve played so well this past week, I was hitting it so well and putts were dropping,” said Dahmen, who won the state title two years ago as a freshman. “But my swing was terrible (Wednesday). It was a struggle. Even when the ball went straight it didn’t feel good.

“It was a mental grind. I was going, ‘Don’t do this today.’ I just wanted to hit the greens and make a few putts.”

Instead, Dahmen endured a stressful round that leaves him well-positioned on a crowded leaderboard entering today’s final round. Dahmen tees off at 9:48 in the next-to-last group. The final group tees off at 9:57.

“You can’t win it on the first day, but you can lose it, that’s what my dad always tells me,” said Dahmen, who shot three 66s at the Lewiston Country Club over the past week. “I didn’t shoot myself out of it. I think I have a great chance on this course, especially if I get the putter going.”

Dahmen was 2-under through 12 holes, but doubled the 333-yard par-four 13th. He followed that with a bogey on No. 14, but recovered with two late birdies.

“I hit 4-iron way right (on 13), then I went left on my second up in the trees,” Dahmen said. “I was so mad at myself I bogeyed the next hole. I was still fuming and missed a three-footer for birdie on 15. Luckily, there are par 5s on 16 and 18 and you kind of take 4s there, get a couple birdies and get out of here.”

Dolbow, who finished tied for second last year, closed strong with a 33 on the back nine.

“I didn’t play very well, but I didn’t try to force anything,” Dolbow said. “I just played smart and I putted pretty well. It could have been a lot worse, so I’m not going to complain.”

In the girls tournament at Hangman Valley, Issaquah freshman Brittany Tallman had five birdies en route to a 71 and a four-shot lead over Bellingham’s Paige Rachor. Six players shot less than 80.

“It was a great round for her,” Issaquah coach Tom Bakamus said. “It’s probably one of her better rounds. She hit her irons real well and gave herself some putts.”

Tallman, who tees off in the final threesome at 9:44 this morning, birdied the last two holes to stretch her lead.

Three-time defending champion Bellingham had four players in the top 20, including 2004 state champ Blair Ressler at 78.

“It’s tough to compete with that team,” Bakamus said of the Red Raiders.

Clarkston’s Kayln Carlson fired an 81, West Valley’s Ashley Wieber had 83 and East Valley’s Ashley Saffle carded an 84.