Upstart Dahmen holds steady for share of Quail Hollow 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 at 11-under-par 202 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 slightly 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, a 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.

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.

■ LPGA: At Daly City, Calif., Sei Young Kim played through a back injury to shoot a 4-under 68 for a 10-under 206 total and a three-stroke lead in the Mediheal Championship. Charley Hull (70) was second. Second-round leader So Yeon Ryu (79) fell to a tie for 20th.

■ Champions: At The Woodlands, Texas, Scott McCarron took a three-stroke lead in the Insperity Invitational, completing a 5-under 67 in the storm-delayed first round and adding a 65 in the second. Paul Goydos (68-67) and Scott Parel (67-68) were tied for second.

■ European PGA: At Shenzhen, China, Benjamin Hebert shot an 8-under 64 for a 17-under 199 total and a three-stroke lead in the Volvo China Open. Kuang Yang, 14, the youngest player to make a tour cut, shot a 3-under 69 and was tied for 44th.