The inaugural Joel Dahmen Invitational was held June 23 at Apple Tree Golf Course in Yakima. Conducted by the Washington Junior Golf Association (WJGA), the one-day event featured junior players from across the state who have had success in the first part of the season. 

“We wanted to create a new invitational event,” said Tyler Johnsen, WJGA executive director. “Our spring events have gotten so big we thought it would be neat to have a smaller invitational event at the end of the spring season based on a player’s success during the spring.” 

This past winter, Johnsen had reached out to Dahmen to see if he was interested in attaching his name to the event. “A lot of other junior golf associations have tournaments with alumni names attached, and I thought it’d be neat to have one ourselves. It was really good timing on all ends as Joel had just recently launched The Dahmen Family Foundation and he basically said yes right away to supporting the event.” 

A native of Clarkston, Wash., Dahmen, 35, began competing in WJGA events at the age of nine. He would go on to play at the University of Washington, and won the 2007 Washington Men’s Amateur, before embarking on a career competing on the PGA Tour, where he has one title.  

“The WJGA has been a huge part of my life,” Dahmen says. “It gave me my start in the game, and led me to where I am today. A special moment being able to give back to what made me who I am. Thanks to the WJGA and all the people who helped launch our Dahmen Family Foundation, for reasons just like this. So excited for these young kids.”  

Dahmen won a high school state title at Apple Tree, so the inaugural Joel Dahmen Invitational being held at Apple Tree has special significance for him.  

Click here to view Joel’s welcome video to the junior golfers playing in the event.  

The Dahmen Family Foundation was created by Joel and his wife Lona with a vision to raise funds for charities benefiting children and families through the game golf. Keying on cancer patients and their families in need and small-town golf communities to better the game. Joel himself is a cancer survivor.