KOHLER, Wis. (naccsports.org) --- Blustery conditions led to higher-than-normal scores throughout the field Saturday at the 2026 Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC) Men's Golf Championships got underway at Blackwolf Run.

Nine-time defending champion Aurora University carded five sub-80 rounds on the 6,670-yard Meadow Valleys track and leads the field with a 303 total - well off the Spartans' season average of 291.8. Milwaukee School of Engineering is second at 311, just two strokes better than third-place St. Norbert College at 313. Edgewood University leads a tight battle in the midfield, sitting fourth at 321, while Wisconsin Lutheran College holds a one-stroke edge over Lakeland University, 325-326, for fifth. Marian University is seventh at 335, four strokes ahead of Concordia University Wisconsin (339), while Benedictine University is ninth at 353.

Wisconsin Lutheran's Alex Buckoski leads the medalist race after carding five birdies en route to a 1-over 73. He leads MSOE's Charlie Larson by one stroke. Larson's round was significantly less volatile than Buckoski's. After a bogey on the opening hole, Larson parred the next 15 holes before finishing double bogey-birdie to post a 2-over 74.

Behind the two leaders, Aurora holds four of the next nine spots. Brandon Burggraf and Mattias Morris are tied for thid after carding opening-round 3-over 75s, while Kashton Wilson is tied for fifth after a 76, and Trenton Kurtz is tied for seventh after a 77.

Edgewood and St. Norbert both have two players in the top 11. For the Eagles, Noah Frederickson (77) is tied for seventh, while Josh Potter (78) is tied for 10th. For the Green Knights, it is Brendan Lange (76) in a tie for fifth and Cole Bersch (78) in a tie for 10th.

MSOE's Preston Filter holds down the remaining spot in the top 11.

Sunday's second round gets underway at 10 a.m. The initial wave will be comprised of players from Aurora, MSOE, and St. Norbert. The second wave - with players from Edgewood, Wisconsin Lutheran, and Lakeland - begins at 10:54 a.m., while the final wave - Marian, Concordia Wisconsin, and Benedictine - will tee off beginning at 11:45 a.m.

2026 NACC Men's Golf Championships
At Kohler, Wis.
(Blackwolf Run - Meadow Valleys)
Par 72, 6,670 yards
First Round Scores
Teams --- 1. Aurora, 303; 2. MSOE, 311; 3. St. Norbert, 313; 4. Edgewood, 321; 5. Wisconsin Lutheran, 325; 6. Lakeland, 326; 7. Marian, 335; 8. Concordia Wisconsin, 339; 9. Benedictine, 353.
Top 10 individuals --- 1. Alex Buckoski (WLC), 73; 2. Charlie Larson (MSOE), 74; 3. (tie) Brandon Burggraf (AUR) and Mattias Morris (AUR), 75; 5. (tie) Brendan Lange (SNC) and Kashton Wilson (AUR), 76; 7. (tie) Preston Filter (MSOE), Trenton Kurtz (AUR), and Noah Frederickson (EDGE), 77; 10. (tie) Cole Bersch (SNC) and Josh Potter (EDGE), 78.