NEW GLASGOW, Nova Scotia (July 18, 2014) -- Two clubs that have never had a member win the Mid-Amateur title each have a competitor sitting atop the leader board following day one at the MCT Insurance Mid Amateur Championship. Truro and Oakfield have never had one of their golfers win an NSGA Mid-Amateur title in the tournament's 22year history, and although it's early that could change this year. Leading the charge on day 1 was Paul Coulson of Truro and Matt Vaughan of Oakfield who each fired the low rounds of the day amongst the 143 competing this weekend at Abercrombie finishing at -1 (70). Coulson, who began on the back nine, came out of the gates recording birdies on his first 3 of 4 holes. From there Coulson would earn another birdie on #17 to finish at -4 through nine holes. Coulson began to look human on the front nine bogeying holes #1, 8, and 9 however he would hold it together and return to the clubhouse as leader. "I got off to a real quick start which helped me get the round going, I chipped in on #12 and from there managed to birdie my first three holes, I had some bogeys but I held it together and played well" said Coulson on his first round performance. Coulson explained unlike Truro which is generally more open than Abercrombie the first shot is really key "It's a 1st shot course, I had to dial it back a notch used a lot of hybrids, and woods to put myself in good positions off the tee and to reach the green in regulation". Coulson also benefited from playing in the Abercrombie Invitational at the beginning of the month "I was really fortunate to have played with Kevin Scott for two of the rounds at the Invitational. He ended up winning the event and he really helped me know how to play the course like a member" explained Coulson. Heading into tomorrow Coulson said the game plan remains the same except he expects the greens to quicken "the greens were really receptive to the rain last night, and they played a little slower which is fine with me. I think as things dry out they'll get even faster".

Aaron Nickerson addresses the ball Friday at Abercrombie Golf and Country Club Vaughan, who was playing in the 8:30 am pairing was a bit of a dark horse entering round one, but the Bedford resident explained he is hitting his stride at the right time "I am really happy with the round and I played perhaps better than expected today but I have been playing really well lately so I am capable of having rounds like that". Vaughan, similar to Coulson, got off to a strong start finishing +1 through nine holes, however it was an eagle on #4 that helped him get to under par "I hit my tee shot left and didn't have much of a swing on it so I hit it to about 100 yards and managed to hole it on the approach" said Vaughan. According to Vaughan, unlike his home course of Oakfield Abercrombie is much narrower on some of the fairways "Oakfield you can really be free-swinging, here you have to be careful where your placing your tee shots". Sitting two shots back is defending champion Trevor Chow of Ashburn, and Lingan's Bill Burns who both fired opening day totals of 72. Craig Hollett of Grandview and Jamie Aitken of Abercrombie sit three shots off the pace at 73.

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