Cancer survivor Dahmen takes 2nd round lead

Published Jul. 9, 2011 5:10 a.m. ET

foxsports

American Joel Dahmen, playing in his second tournament since finishing chemotherapy for testicular cancer, shot a 7-under 65 Friday to take the lead after the second round of the Dakota Dunes Casino Open.

Dahmen, of Clarkston, Wash., was diagnosed in March and had surgery in May.

''I'm just happy to be playing, I really had no expectations coming into this week,'' said the 23-year-old who was at 12 under 132 for the tournament. ''Making bogeys doesn't matter as much to me this year as it did last year and I think it's (cancer) helped my perspective on life tremendously.''

Dahmen's diagnosis came just one year after his brother was diagnosed with the same ailment and six years after his mother succumbed to another form of the deadly disease.

''It's something that has run in the family and when I felt the bump I knew what it was right away,'' said Dahmen who only had to endure one round of chemotherapy. ''Luckily we caught it quickly and I'm expected to make a full recovery and I'm feeling pretty good as it stands.''

Dahmen's second round began with a bogey on the first hole, and then he carded eight birdies in a 15-hole stretch to take the lead.

Dahmen, whose best finish on the Canadian Tour came in Victoria last season when he tied for seventh, is playing his 12th event on tour and likes the way the course at Dakota Dunes is set up.

''There are a lot of birdies available out there,'' said Dahmen who has totaled 15 birdies over two rounds. ''I've been working on my chipping and putting after last week and it paid off today.''

Liam Kendregan of Danville, Calif., shot a 67 and fell one shot behind Dahmen at 11-under. Kendregan is playing this season on a medical exemption after sustaining injuries in a car accident last year.

''Taking the year off put things in perspective and I'm very much enjoying being out here with the boys, it feels really good,'' the 28-year-old Kendregan said.

Kendregan, who went bogey-free Friday, said he will feel no pressure playing in the final group on Saturday.

''I'm going to enjoy it, I've got two more rounds and I'm going to see how low I can go,'' he said. ''It's going to be fun tomorrow.''

Jose Rodriguez shot the best round of the day with a 9-under 63, two shots off the course record set by Cody Slover last year. Rodriguez was two shots back of Dahmen and just one behind Kendregan.

Canadian Isabelle Beisiegel struggled to a 4-over 76. Combined with her opening 73, she finished seven shots off the cut.