Defending champions Adam Brickle, Aaron Nackoul hold Round 1 lead at 44th Pewter Cup Classic

Published: Saturday, June 27, 2026 at 9:45 am

Defending champions Adam Brickle and Aaron Nackoul have seized the early lead at the 44th Pewter Cup Classic, carding a 9-under-par 63 in the opening round. The formidable duo, who have claimed victory in the last two tournaments and three overall, matched birdies on the 18th hole to establish a one-stroke advantage heading into Saturday's second round.

Nackoul was instrumental in their strong performance, delivering a scorching back nine with birdies on holes 10, 13, 14, 16, and 18, contributing a solo 68 to the team's score. Brickle, meanwhile, secured three birdies on the front nine, making the turn at 1-under and finishing with a 70.

Their lead is slender, however, with two teams closely trailing at 64. The pairings of Jake Driscoll and Colby Hook, and Patrick McLaughlin and Nate Murphy, both posted matching 64s. Driscoll notably recorded an eagle-3 on the par-5 10th hole. Murphy demonstrated remarkable consistency, birdying seven holes without a single bogey until a double-bogey on the 18th, which still resulted in a solo 67.

A further stroke behind the second-place teams are former champions Joshua Shepard and Jamie Cimini, who finished Round 1 with a 65. Shepard and Cimini, winners of the 2022 Pewter Cup, saw Shepard bounce back from an early bogey on the second hole with four consecutive birdies, ultimately posting the day's top individual score of 6-under 66.

Two additional teams are positioned three strokes off the pace, with Tom and Matt Gilardi, alongside Brian Bonacquisti and Hayden Jarck, both shooting 66. Tied for seventh place at 3-under 69 are the teams of Patrick Casey and William Ardussi, Stephen Sykes and Jacob Hillman, and Matt and Shane Ortega.

The Championship Flight, featuring 16 teams, will commence its second round at 8:20 a.m. on Saturday. The leading pair, Brickle and Nackoul, are scheduled to tee off alongside Driscoll and Hook at 9:30 a.m. The tournament's final round is slated for Sunday afternoon.

BNN's Perspective:
The 44th Pewter Cup Classic is shaping up to be a closely contested event, with the defending champions demonstrating their experience and skill. However, the emergence of strong performances from multiple teams, including past winners and promising new pairings, suggests that the competition for the title remains wide open. The narrow margins at the top indicate that strategic play and consistent execution will be paramount in the remaining rounds.

Tags: Adam Brickle, Aaron Nackoul, 44th Pewter Cup Classic, Championship Flight, Round 1 lead, 9-under-par, 63, one-stroke lead, two-time defending champions, three-time overall winners, scorching back-nine, birdies, 68, 70, Jake Driscoll, Colby Hook, Patrick McLaughlin, Nate Murphy, matching 64s, eagle-3, 10th hole, double-bogey, 67, Joshua Shepard, Jamie Cimini, former champions, 2022 Pewter Cup, 66, Tom and Matt Gilardi, Brian Bonacquisti, Hayden Jarck, 66, Patrick Casey, William Ardussi, Stephen Sykes, Jacob Hillman, Matt and Shane Ortega, 69, Saturday, 9:30 a.m. tee time, Round 2, 8:20 a.m., Sunday afternoon

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