Dahmen survives
Clarkston High senior Joel Dahmen sometimes makes the difficult game of golf look easy, but there was nothing simple or smooth about the 18 roller-coaster holes he endured Wednesday at the State 3A boys tournament.
Dahmen, saddled with a heavy burden of expectations and a swing that temporarily left him on the back nine, went into grind mode and produced an effective 1-under-par 71 at Indian Canyon to claim the championship by two shots over Bainbridge senior Austin Hurt.
Dahmen, who won a state title as a freshman, had a two-day total of 7-under 137. Scores soared on the second day as the winds kicked up and pins were tucked in some treacherous locations. Just five players broke par and only Issaquah’s Jeremy Wendelken (67) broke 70.
“It was a war with myself,” a relieved Dahmen said. “I wanted it pretty bad. That was a tough one to get through.”
Dahmen had birdies on 12 and 13, but he wobbled through the remaining holes with two bogeys and pars at 17 and 18, holes he eagled last week en route to a course-record 61. It seemed everywhere Dahmen turned this week, someone was mentioning his 61.
“He’s got a lot of attention and I think it’s a lot of pressure for a high school kid, even as cool as he is,” Bantams coach Brian Frazier said. “It’s a real credit to him to come out here with that on his back because there were a lot of people that expected him to win it, and that’s different from coming in and hoping you win.”
The University of Washington-bound Dahmen started the day tied with Timberline freshman Cameron Peck and one shot in front of Hanford freshman Josh Harvey. Peck shot 40 on the front and finished with 77. Harvey hung tough and shot 73 for a two-day 140.
Dahmen’s primary challengers were in the second-to-last group. Early on the back nine, Dahmen was at 8-under with Hurt one shot behind and Mehl two back. Hurt took double bogey on No. 14 and shot 38 on the back side while Mehl ballooned to 43.
“After 13 I thought I was rolling, but then the storm came,” Dahmen said. “I wasn’t really nervous, but I was lost. I didn’t know where the ball was going. I was just trying to get the ball in the hole. I didn’t care how it got there.”
Mercer Island (77 points) edged Hanford (69) and O’Dea (68) to win the team title.
In the 3A girls tournament at MeadowWood, Seattle Prep freshman Katrina Hegge shot 75 for a five-stroke victory over Mount Rainier’s Stephanie Corey. Hegge, who shattered the course record with a 66 Tuesday, had a two-day total of 3-under 141. Corey (77) finished at 146.
Coming off consecutive birdies, Hegge appeared to be in good shape on the par-3 eighth after lagging her birdie putt within 18 inches of the cup. As she was preparing to putt out, a gust of wind caused her ball to move. Hegge wasn’t sure if she was addressing the ball, but three playing partners agreed that she was, resulting in a one-shot penalty. A frustrated Hegge then missed the putt and took double bogey.
On No. 10, Hegge launched a driver, but her ball rolled into the pond in front of the 11th green. She bogeyed and saw her lead melt to one stroke. The turning point came at the par-5 12th when Hegge nearly holed a sand shot for eagle while Corey was making bogey.
Bellingham rolled to its fifth straight team title with 111 points. Interlake was second with 54.5.