![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Nick-and-Darren-Ritchie-edited-headshot.jpg\")
Nick Ritchie and his dad Darren. PHOTO: NICK RITCHIE\/SUBMITTED. <\/p>\nA Saint John-area amateur golfer has earned a spot in a prestigious tournament.<\/p>\n
Nick Ritchie will tee up among professionals at the 2026 Omnium Explore NB Open beginning July 9.<\/p>\n
Ritchie qualified by winning the 2025 New Brunswick Men\u2019s Amateur Championship. He will be accompanied by his father and caddy, Darren Ritchie, a two-time provincial amateur champion and 1992 Canadian amateur champion.<\/p>\n
He said he feels honoured to participate in the event.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou don\u2019t really get this kind of opportunity around Quispamsis, Saint John area very often, so it\u2019s a blessing to be able to have this opportunity to play against these guys that do it for a living, and to have my dad on the bag is pretty special,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Ritchie has been playing golf since he was around two years old and competing since he was 11.<\/p>\n
Until recently, he also competed at the collegiate level in the U.S. for Sterling College.<\/p>\n
Darren said that while he put the club in Nick\u2019s hands very early on, he was never pushed to pursue the sport.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a wonderful experience for him. I\u2019m so proud to be part of it, but again this is about Nick,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been very fortunate to have this amazing career and to do what I\u2019ve done, but it\u2019s important for him to create his own path, and he\u2019s been doing that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nick Ritchie and his dad Darren. PHOTO: NICK RITCHIE\/SUBMITTED. <\/p>\n
Ritchie added that while his love for golf led him to continue playing, learning from his dad and playing with him helped nurture his passion for the sport.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was nice to have that as a young guy, to be able to learn from my dad, and now we can basically play the game till we die together, which is awesome,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The tournament at the Mactaquac Provincial Park Golf Course is the first Canadian stop on the North American swing of the PGA Tour Americas.<\/p>\n
The PGA Tour Americas is an international pathway tour spanning North and South America, providing players with a clear route to the Korn Ferry Tour \u2014 the primary pathway for professional golfers aiming to earn their PGA Tour card (membership) and compete in the tournament, which is considered golf\u2019s biggest stage.<\/p>\n
The tournament will run through July 12 and will feature more than 150 professional golfers from around the world.<\/p>\n
Ritchie said he is looking forward to learning from the players while he plays with them during the event and is excited to share this experience with his dad.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a really cool opportunity,\u201d he said. \u201cThis wasn\u2019t around when my dad was playing, so to be able to share this moment with him is one of a kind.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Katherine-Del-Salto-Head-shot.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Katherine Del Salto is a multimedia journalist originally from Guayaquil, Ecuador. She came to Canada in 2021 to pursue a journalism degree at St. Thomas University. If you have any story tips, you can reach Katherine at delsaltok@radioabl.ca<\/a>.<\/p>\n