Baade and Mitzel on top at PNGA Men’s Mid-Amateur after first round; Battistella leads Women’s Mid-Am
Vancouver, Wash. – Derek Baade (Vancouver, Wash.) and Paul Mitzel (Quincy, Wash.) both shot rounds of 68 (-4) in today’s first round of the 41st PNGA Men’s Mid-Amateur to sit tied for the lead in the championship. Taya Battistella (Bellingham, Wash.) shot even-par 72 to take the early lead in the 24th PNGA Women’s Mid-Amateur.
Both championships will consist of three rounds of stroke play, and are being held concurrently this week at Royal Oaks Country Club in Vancouver, Wash. The second round will be held on Wednesday, with the final round on Thursday.
This marks the first time Royal Oaks has hosted a PNGA Mid-Amateur, and the first time since the 2003 Men’s Amateur it has hosted any PNGA championship.
Championship Links:
Men’s:
Women’s:
Baade turned in a clean scorecard in today’s first round, with four birdies and no bogeys. A member at Royal Oaks, he is playing this championship on his home course. Baade attended New Mexico State University on a golf scholarship, played four years on the men’s golf team, and turned pro after graduation. He regained his amateur status, moved to Vancouver where he now works as a financial advisor. For three years he was the head coach of the boys’ golf team at Seton Catholic High School in Vancouver.
Mitzel opened his round today by holing out from the fairway on the par 4 first hole for an eagle two. He has previously won the 2022 PNGA Men’s Amateur, and qualified for the 2025 U.S. Mid-Amateur, where he made it to the round of 64. He was selected for Team WA Golf in the 2026 PNGA Lamey Cup.
Zach Foushee (Lake Oswego, Ore.) finished today at 3-under, one shot back of Baade and Mitzel. Foushee continues his good play this summer. Earlier this month he won the Oregon Stroke Play Championship by nine shots, and last week qualified for the 2026 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship. He has won three consecutive Oregon Amateurs (2023, 2024, 2025), and in 2023 was named the PNGA Men’s Mid-Amateur Player of the Year.
Battistella’s round consisted of three birdies and three bogeys. Last year she was named the PNGA Women’s Mid-Amateur Player of the Year, and was selected for Team WA Golf in the 2026 PNGA Lamey Cup, held earlier this year at Victoria (B.C.) Golf Club.
Two shots back of Battistella, in second place, is Gretchen Johnson (Portland), who won this championship in 2019, and twice was named PNGA Women’s Mid-Amateur Player of the Year (2023, 2024).
Tied for third, three shots behind Battistella, are Nonie Marler (Vancouver, B.C.) and defending champion Jessica Mangrobang (Tigard, Ore.).
Royal Oaks has become well-known across the Northwest through the Royal Oaks Invitational, which has been held yearly in junior, senior and amateur divisions since 1957. It’s also been the site of other high-level events such as the Oregon Amateur Championship, Northwest Open Invitational, and PNWPGA Senior Section Championship. The Hudson Cup and USGA Qualifiers have also been held at Royal Oaks.
Prior to 2003, Royal Oaks had also hosted the PNGA Men’s Amateur in 1994, when then-18-year-old Tiger Woods claimed victory. It was Woods’ first significant title as an adult.
These championships are two of 11 major, regional, amateur championships for men, women, juniors and senior conducted annually by the PNGA throughout the Northwest.
