Team Manitoba lead Inter-Provincial team division
BRANTFORD, Ont. – Evan Nachtigall, Nolan vonKalckreuth, and Garrett Rank all set the new competitive course record at 8-under 64 to sit tied for the lead following the first round of the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, presented by BDO, at Brantford Golf & Country Club in Brantford, Ont. on Tuesday.
Nachtigall of Brandon, Man. finished his round with one eagle and seven birdies on Tuesday.
“Honestly, I drove the ball extremely well, I only missed one fairway out there all day and that was on hole no. 14, where I hit it into the fairway bunker, but I drove the ball excellent today,” said Nachtigall. “I was able to hit it pretty close into the greens and happened to make a few putts.”
After shooting 2-under on the front nine, Nachtigall started hot on the back nine carding three birdies in a row.
“On hole no. 1, I hit a good tee shot, only had 160 into the par 5 there and it to eight feet, I missed the eagle putt but had an easy birdie, then on hole no. 2 I hit driver again, I ripped it up to the front of the green and chipped it on and then tapped it in for birdie, on hole no. 3 it was a good number for a six iron, I hit it to maybe 10 feet and rolled it in.”
After those first three birdies, Nachtigall’s hot streak continued with another three consecutive birdies on holes six through eight.
“I think today was a huge confidence builder with the driver, the last couple of days I kind of made a tweak in my setup and grip that seemed to really help today.
“So, I would say the way I am driving the ball right now, I am going to be in almost every fairway and from there I just have to hit it close and make some putts,” added Nachtigall on what he can take away from today’s round to continue success into the rest of the tournament.
vonKalckreuth of Fort Erie, Ont. finished his round with one eagle and six birdies to join Nachtigall.
“It feels great, I just hit a lot of good iron and wedge shots, and obviously made a few putts,” said vonKalckreuth. “But other than that, it was a really good day for me.
“I absolutely torched a drive right down the centre, I had about 207 in and I fanned one out to the right but left myself in a good spot for a chip, the chip snapped a lot but it went in for me,” added vonKalckreuth on his chip in eagle on hole no. 4.
Rank of Waterloo, Ont. carded one eagle and seven birdies in his opening round, putting him in a good position to compete for his fourth Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship title after winning three years in a row from 2014-2016. Along with being a three-time Men’s Mid-Amateur Champion, Rank also won the Canadian College / University Individual Championship in 2012. Winning this year’s national championship would make Rank a five-time national champion.
Alex Large of Dead Mans Flats, Alta. and Thad Hudgens of Longwood, Fla. both shot 6-under 66 to sit T1 in the Mid-Master division following the first round of the national championship.
Team Manitoba leads the Inter-Provincial Team Championship competing for the R. Bruce Forbes Trophy, they are looking to win their first title since 2005. Nachtigall’s 8-under 64 and Jordy Lutz of Winnipeg, Man. 3-under 69 contributed to the team’s combined score of 11-under for the first round. Teammate David Spurr of Oakbank, Man. also shot 3-under 69. Team Alberta currently sits in second at 7-under, and New Brunswick sits in third at 5-under. The Inter-Provincial Team Championship runs concurrently over the first 36 holes of the national championship.
Along with winning the Canadian Men’s Mid Amateur Championship trophy, the winner will also receive an exemption into the 2026 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship at Sand Valley Resort in Nekoosa, Wis. from September 26 – October 1, as well as a spot in the field for the 2027 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, and the 2027 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, both presented by BDO.
The field of 156 players feature golfers (aged 25-and-over as of August 18, 2026), with a handicap index of 5.0 or less. Those aged 40-and-over as of August 18, 2026, also compete in the Mid-Master division. Following Wednesday’s second round the field will be cut to the low 70 players and ties, based off the Mid-Amateur division with a minimum of 10 players in the Mid-Master division making the cut and anyone within 10 shots of the Mid-Master leader.
To view the individual and inter-provincial team leaderboards following the opening round of the Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, presented by BDO, please click here.
