By Nick Hunter

HAMEL, Minn. – Converting three consecutive birdies to close out his opening round Monday at Medina Golf and Country Club, professional Michael Schmitz fired a 5-under 67 to take a two-shot advantage to begin the 2026 Twin Cities Open presented by Yamaha Golf and Utility.

Schmitz has collected a runner-up finish and a pair of top-10s in each of his first three appearances at the championship, but on Tuesday he will look to bounce back from two finishes outside of the top-30 in each of the past two seasons.

“Today I hit a lot of fairways, and I hit a lot of good second shots to set myself up with good looks and opportunities to score,” Schmitz said following his opening round. “I don’t have any expectations. Granted I play as much as I can living in Arizona, but it’s a matter of hitting the shots.

“I know my good is pretty decent and if you can keep the ball in the fairway here, you’re going to have a lot of looks.”

When the final round gets underway early Tuesday, Schmitz will need to hold off fellow professional Kyle Scanlon, recent University of Minnesota graduate Jack Wetzel and amateur Ian Friederichs, each tallying a round of 3-under 69.

“Keep the ball in play and get a couple of putts to fall like I did today and I’ll be in good shape,” Schmitz said, looking forward to Tuesday’s final 18 holes.

Playing his opening nine in 1-under Monday, Schmitz rolled in a birdie chance at the par-4 10th before a flurry of birdies late in the round.

The former Winona State University golfer knocked his approach inside of three feet at the 16th and would then drop his birdie look from 12 feet at the 17th to reach 4-under for the day.

Left with 20 feet for birdie at the last, Schmitz gave an emphatic fist pump when his final putt found the bottom of the cup to secure a two-stroke advantage with one round to play.

Schmitz, 30, finished second to Jack Hiemenz in 2021 at Tanners Brook Golf Course prior to placing 10th the following season at Rush Creek Golf Club. In 2023, Schmitz opened with a round of 68 on his way to a sixth-place finish at Edina Country Club.

Despite his last victory coming during the 2022 season, Scanlon has posted 13 top-5s since, including a runner-up finish in each of the last two seasons.

On Monday, after two early birdies to begin his round, Scanlon dropped back to even par following a double-bogey at the sixth, but got help from his putter mid-round by converting three birdie chances from beyond 15 feet over his final 11-holes to move into a share of second place at 3-under 69.

“Overall, my round was very solid with my irons, and I was able to get the ball pin-high for most of my round,” the 37-year-old Scanlon said Monday. “My irons created a lot of opportunities and cashed in on five of them for birdies. I also really had a good pace on my mid-range lag putts today.

“Tomorrow I’ll need to hit a lot of greens and give myself some chances below the hole. There are some great players on the leaderboard right behind me, but I’m excited for the chance to play in one of the final groups tomorrow.”

Wetzel, who tallied a late bogey to post an opening-round 69, and Friedrichs, who bounced back from two early bogeys with five birdies over his final 11 holes, will each look to become the first amateur to claim the championship since its inception in 2021.

Playing his final eight holes in 5-under par helped Andrew Israelson make a late push up the leaderboard Monday, shooting 2-under 70 to sit tied for fifth with Bennett Smed.

Notables

Brent Snyder, a three-time Rolex Player of the Year winner, will begin the final round tied for seventh with eight-time Player of the Year winner Jeff Sorenson, Medina Golf and Country Club’s Wes Buntenbach and Gavin Metz (The Pines at Grand View Lodge).

Alex Kline (Kilkarney Hills Golf Course), winner of the 2023 championship at Edina Country Club, fired an even par 72 to finish his opening round tied for 12th. Inaugural Twin Cities Open winner Jack Hiemenz (Victory Links Golf Course) sits tied for 26th following his opening-round 74, while defending champion and two-time defending Player of the Year Thomas Campbell (The Wilds Golf Club) posted a 3-over 75 to finish the first round in a share of 44th.

The final round of the 2026 Twin Cities Open gets underway at 8 a.m. Tuesday at Medina Golf and Country Club.

 

THE 2026 TWIN CITIES OPEN

MEDINA GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB

HAMEL, MINN.

7,267 YARDS, PAR 72

 

MONDAY’S FIRST ROUND RESULTS

1. Michael Schmitz, Hyland Greens GC, 35-32—67

T2. Jack Wetzel (a), Braemar GC, 34-35—69

T2. Kyle Scanlon, Northfield GC, 35-34—69

T2. Ian Friederichs (a), The Minikahda Club, 36-33—69

T5. Bennett Smed, White Bear YC, 35-35—70

T5. Andrew Israelson, Minneapolis GC, 38-32—70

T7. Brent Snyder, Kilkarney Hills GC, 37-34—71

T7. Jeff Sorenson, The Minikahda Club, 36-35—71

T7. Wes Buntenbach, Medina G&CC, 36-35—71

T7. Trent Peterson (a), Bunker Hills GC, 33-38—71

T7. Gavin Metz, The Pines at GVL, 36-35—71

 

For complete tournament results go to: Twin Cities Open – Championship Leaderboard | Minnesota PGA