Mitzel vaults into lead at PNGA Men’s Mid-Amateur; Swanson takes control in Women’s Mid-Am
Vancouver, Wash. – In today’s second round of the 41st PNGA Men’s Mid-Amateur, Paul Mitzel (Quincy, Wash.) shot a second consecutive round of 4-under 68 and sits alone at the top of the leaderboard at 8-under par. In the 24th PNGA Women’s Mid-Amateur, Hannah Swanson (Portland) fired a 3-under 69 to take solo lead.
Both championships are being held concurrently this week at Royal Oaks Country Club in Vancouver, Wash. The final round of the 54-hole stroke-play championships will be held Thursday, August 20.
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:
In the Men’s Mid-Amateur, Mitzel began today’s second round tied for the lead with Derek Baade (Vancouver, Wash.). He bogeyed the first hole, but then went on a tear, which included an eagle 3 on the par-5 sixth hole. He was solid on the back nine, firing three birdies against no bogeys. Mitzel 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.
Also shooting a 68 today was Wyatt Brook (Heffley Creek, B.C.), which followed up his 1-under 71 in yesterday’s first round. Brook is looking to defend his title, having won this championship last year. Earlier this season, he also won the BC Men’s Mid-Amateur title. He will start tomorrow’s final round three shots back of Mitzel.
In third place is William Snow (Vancouver, Wash.) after shooting 70-71 in his first two rounds. Earlier this month, Snow finished runner-up in the PNGA Master-40 Amateur.
Tom Brandes (Bellevue, Wash.) shot 3-under 69 today, and will start tomorrow’s final round tied for fourth. Next week he turns 70 years old and is looking to turn back the clock. He won this championship twice (2006, 2012), is a 6-time PNGA Senior Men’s Amateur champion, and in 2015 was inducted into the Pacific Northwest Golf Hall of Fame.
After yesterday’s 68 which put him tied for the lead, Baade shot 4-over 76 today and now sits eight shots off Mitzel’s pace. Baade, who turned professional after playing at New Mexico State University, regained his amateur status, and is playing this week’s championship on his home course of Royal Oaks.
It is crowded at the top of the leaderboard in the Women’s Mid-Amateur, with Swanson holding a 2-shot lead over three players. After opening with a 4-over 76 in yesterday’s first round, Swanson caught fire in today’s second round, draining four birdies against a lone bogey. Earlier this year, she was selected for Team OGA at the PNGA Lamey Cup.
Two shots back of Swanson are Tina Papatolis (Issaquah, Wash.), Gretchen Johnson (Portland), and Jessica Mangrobang (Portland). All three have the pedigree to give Swanson a run in tomorrow’s final round. Papatolis won this championship in 2023 and earlier this year won the Washington Women’s Mid-Amateur. Johnson won this championship in 2019, and was twice named the PNGA Women’s Mid-Amateur Player of the Year (2023, 2024). And Mangrobang is attempting to defend her title, having won this championship last year.
Taya Battistella (Bellingham, Wash.) started today’s second round two shots clear of the field, but strung together several bogeys on the front nine, to fall back. Last year, she was named the PNGA Women’s Mid-Amateur Player of the Year.
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.
