Dahmen not fazed, grabs share of lead

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Joel Dahmen held his own playing in the final group for the first time and wound up in a three-way tie for the lead with Jason Dufner and Max Homa on a stormy Saturday at the Wells Fargo Championship.

Very much in the mix was Rory McIlroy, who was reminded at every turn that it was his 30th birthday. He had a 3-under 68 and was two shots behind.

Storms moved in sooner than expected causing two delays, each lasting a little more than an hour and making a firm Quail Hollow play slightly softer.

Dahmen and Homa each dropped a shot over the last three holes for a 70. They were tied for the lead when Dahmen’s approach to the 16th was left of the green and came close to the water. He missed a 12-foot par attempt. Homa pushed his drive to the right on the 18th and was blocked by trees, played his second across the creek into the gallery and missed a 10-foot par putt.

Dufner, the former PGA champion, atoned for back-to-back bogeys after the first storm delay with two straight birdies, and he gave himself chances down the stretch. He wound up with a 71.

They were at 11-under 202.

Pat Perez had a bogey-free 66 and was one shot behind. Six players were separated by three shots going into the final round, a group that includes Justin Rose, who bogeyed the 18th hole from a poor tee shot and shot 68.

Dahmen, the cancer survivor who keeps a light perspective on golf, had never been in the top five starting a round on the weekend.

“I thought I was going to be a lot more nervous in those opening holes, and I wasn’t,” Dahmen said.