Can a chance encounter in a pizza line spark the start of someone’s love life? Without a doubt, it can! Professional golfer Joel Dahmen, who is currently competing in the 2024 RBC Canadian Open, finished his second round with an impressive 8-under par for a total score of 119. However, the most remarkable aspect of Dahmen’s story isn’t his golf performance but the ups and downs of his life, including his fight against testicular cancer.

But who stood by him during his hardest times? His wife, Lona Dahmen, Interestingly, Lona had been supporting him even before they were married. Beyond her role as his supportive partner, she is also a fascinating individual. Let’s dive deeper and learn more about the wife of this PGA Tour pro!

The early life of Joel Dahmen’s wife, Lona Dahmen

Born on August 13th, 1988, Lona Dahmen keeps details about her early life and parents under wraps. However, her LinkedIn profile confirms that she attended California State University, studied communication design, and graduated in 2011. The wife of a pro golfer, Lona Dahmen, appears to have a studious nature.

She was a member of the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority and spent a semester studying at Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia, in 2009. Could her time in Australia have sparked her passion for travel and food? Perhaps. Lona’s public Instagram account, @traveleatsandtreats, has over 8,000 followers and is filled with posts about her travels and culinary adventures.

Throughout her life, Lona’s adventurous nature has led her to try various jobs. As a teenager, Lona worked at a golf club. Later, while dating the golfer, she became an assistant event coordinator at Citizen Public House, where she continues to work to this day. Their first meeting and dating journey began even before she started this job.

How did Dahmen and her wife first meet?

It was in 2012, a year after the pro recovered from testicular cancer. At Old Town Scottsdale, while standing in a pizza line, they met. During that time, Lona was getting a snack for her friend Seena, and she was getting late to meet her. Meanwhile, the golfer was getting one for himself. Surprisingly, Dahmen initiated the conversation by offering Lona a challenge: he said he would buy her a slice if she could get to the front of the line faster than him.

She quickly accepted the challenge, given her love for food. Though the golfer’s friend Annie won by getting a whole pizza before both of them, Lona shared her number with the golfer. Initially planning to stay single and move to New York City in four months, meeting Joel Dahmen changed everything, as revealed on their wedding website.

Just a week after the golfer asked her out, Lona accepted, and they began meeting frequently, becoming inseparable. After nearly six years of dating, they decided to marry at the Royal Palms in Phoenix on December 15, 2018. Three and a half years later, in July 2022, they received the exciting news that Lona was pregnant. The pro golfer shared a photo on Instagram and captioned, “It’s actually happening. Pray for us.” In January 2023, the couple celebrated the arrival of their son, Riggs William Dahmen.

Even before tying the knot, Lona was a pillar of support for the golfer. In 2014, the Dahmen faced challenges on the professional greens, leading him to take a break from the game. It was Lona who motivated him to return to golf. As he told GOLF in May 2019, “My now-wife gave me $200 to go get a lesson, and it kick-started my ’14 season and now the rest of my career.” While their love for each other is clear, the couple also collaborates on various activities.

Joel Dahmen and his wife started a foundation

The golfer and his family have faced a tragic history with various types of cancer. In 2011, the pro was diagnosed with testicular cancer, and later his brother received the same diagnosis. Additionally, Joel Dahmen’s mother battled pancreatic cancer and unfortunately passed away. After witnessing these hardships, Lona and her husband initiated The Dahmen Family Foundation in 2022 to raise funds for charities that assist children and families impacted by cancer.

The launch of this foundation was done through Instagram, and the pro shared a post and captioned, “Lona and I have been blessed through an amazing game, and we want to give back to the golf and cancer community in a significant way. This foundation will benefit families and communities in ways I couldn’t have dreamed of, and with baby Dahmen around the corner, it’s a legacy that we want to last.” In 2023, the couple announced on Instagram that they had donated $10,000 to the Arizona Cancer Foundation for Children in hopes of assisting those in need.

In 2023, the couple starred together in the Netflix series Full Swing. They enjoy traveling and living life to the fullest. What are your thoughts on Joel Dahmen and his fascinating wife? Share in the comments below!