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James Vidler during round one of the 2026 Srixon NSW Mid-Amateur.<\/p>\nThree players are deadlocked at the top of the men\u2019s leaderboard after a thrilling opening round of the 2026 Srixon NSW Mid-Amateur Championship at Howlong Golf Resort, while Victorian Geraldine O\u2019Callaghan has grabbed the lead in the women\u2019s field.<\/p>\n
Foster Tuncurry\u2019s Rod Moran, Charlestown\u2019s Timothy Meek and James Vidler from Muirfield all carded two-under-par to lead the field after round one.<\/p>\n
Moran got his round off to a flying start with an eagle on the 11th, his very first hole of the day.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was very happy to get it out of the centre and walk up and tap that one in. It\u2019s a very nice start, it certainly sets the pace,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Moran admitted he hadn\u2019t been in great form heading into the week, but managed to find his rhythm at just the right time.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been in a slump. I actually played pennants last week and got flogged. No expectations, but I ironed out a few things during the week, so I\u2019m very happy.\u201d<\/p>\n
A seasoned visitor to Howlong, Moran was also quick to praise the conditions. <\/p>\n
\u201cI like firm fairways, give you that little bit of extra run that these young blokes don\u2019t need.\u201d <\/p>\n
And with plenty of Mid-Amateur experience under his belt, he knows exactly what the event demands. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been playing them for years, I know what to expect and not what to do at nighttime.\u201d<\/p>\n
Meek had been fighting the flatstick coming into the week, but found his putting touch right when it counted.<\/p>\n
\u201cI hadn\u2019t been hitting it great and hadn\u2019t been sinking any putts, so sinking a couple today was pretty nice,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He also came agonisingly close to an eagle of his own.<\/p>\n
\u201cKnocked it on in two on the first and lipped out for eagle, could have gone in for the same price.\u201d<\/p>\n
A veteran of four or five Mid-Amateurs, Meek noted this was his best round to date in the event.<\/p>\n
Vidler, playing Howlong for the first time, kept it clean and clinical all day.<\/p>\n
James Vidler during round one of the 2026 Srixon NSW Mid-Amateur.<\/p>\n
\u201cI played solid all day, just kept it in play and only missed one or two greens, that was enough to work my way into it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
With two rounds still to play, Vidler was keeping a level head. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a 54-hole event, we just have to make sure we don\u2019t get ahead of ourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n
Not one to sit still, Vidler was already planning a scout of tomorrow\u2019s course after play.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m going to sneak over to Albury now and have a little look. I\u2019ve heard the greens are running really well.\u201d<\/p>\n
A shot back in second, Steven Slappendal and Christopher Thomson sit on one under, with Keiran Johnson, Matthew Kirkwood and Andrew Kirkman a further shot back in a three-way tie at even par.<\/p>\n
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Geraldine O\u2019Callaghan in action during round one of the Srixon NSW Mid-Amateur.<\/p>\n