Two-time champion Leo Metzger earned the top spot on the leaderboard after Day 1 of the 2026 Santa Barbara City Golf Championship on Saturday at Santa Barbara Golf Club.
Metzger, a San Marcos alum who won the tournament in 2022 and 2023, shot a six-under-par 64 to lead the Championship Flight heading into Day 2 of the three-day competition.
Chris Gregoire of Birnam Wood Golf Course and Andy Kocoglu of Moorpark Country Club are right on his heels, as they finished the day tied for second at five-under-par.
Meanwhile, Vicente Rodriguez (Empire Ranch GC) and Aidan Watts (Crossings at Carlsbad) are slotted behind them at four-under.
Defending champion Hudson Vedder currently sits in a four-way tie at three-under-par.
Shane Sims turned in a strong round on his home course to finish at three-under-par and in the lead of the Men’s Hogan Flight. He is followed in the top three by Dominic Manfredi (-1) and Jack Alzina (E).
In the Men’s Nicklaus Fight, Jeff Forster holds the lead as the lone golfer under par at two-under. Pe’A Hill (E) and Nick Morello (+2) follow him in second and third place, respectively.
Yogi Ten currently sits atop the Men’s Palmer Flight leaderboard at one-under-par, with a multiple-stroke lead on second-place Duke Richardson (+1) and third-place Ian Selbie (+2).
In the Women’s Patty Berg Flight, the podium is occupied by locals. Maggie McMillan is in the lead after an even-par round, and the top three is rounded out by Chizuko Bober (+3), Sheri Dean (+4) and Heather McGinnis (+4).
Golfers will continue competition with 18-hole rounds on Sunday and Monday.