Submitted photo: Middleton Classic winners Justin Kean and Justin Yetmar - both Manson Northwest Webster graduates - hold the 2026 championship trophy.

MANSON — For the first time in the 17-year history of the Middleton Classic, the Saturday championship tandem found its way to the top at the end of the weekend.

Fittingly, a pair of Manson Northwest Webster graduates were the twosome to make history.

Justin Kean and Justin Yetmar held off defending titleists Ryan Kinseth and Cory Cummins to prevail and secure the 2026 crown at 20-under par on Sunday evening.

Kean and Yetmar — both 2001 MNW graduates and former Cougar teammates under the tournament’s namesake — eagled the final hole for the victory. Yetmar drove the green and Kean sank the 15-foot putt to dethrone the champs.

The field of nearly 170 golfers included players from Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and Arizona. Kean currently lives in Queen Creek, Ariz. Yetmar resides in Carroll.

Kinseth is a Fort Dodge Senior High graduate, and Cummins was a former Southeast Webster standout.

Yetmar and Kean finished Saturday’s round at 15-under par for top honors. Kinseth and Cummins combined to shoot 13-under on Sunday.

Kevin Kinley and Eric Reed closed at 10-under par to secure the senior championship.

The Middleton Classic is held annually at the Manson Golf and Country Club in remembrance of former Manson Northwest Webster High School teacher and coach Joe Middleton, who passed away in 2007. Elias Johnson, a MNW grad, is the founder and tournament host.

“Most faces are familiar at the tournament, but noticeably absent this year was Craig ‘Doc’ Johnson, who passed away unexpectedly in February (at the age of 70),” Elias Johnson said. “My dad never missed this tournament, and he enjoyed playing with my brother, Brent. He joins a list of players we memorialize at the event, which raises money for (a pair of) $6,000 scholarships awarded each year to a deserving male and female student at Manson Northwest Webster.

“We continue to honor our golfers who have passed on. Brent and myself joined together to play on Sunday – dad’s spot for so many years. It was very emotional for both of us. Our dad was a heck of a golfer and competitor. His goal was always to make the cut, which he and Brent did a few times. This was not an easy weekend. Stepping onto the course without my dad for the first time was something I knew I needed to face – but it didn’t make it any less difficult. His presence is deeply missed.”

Recent MNW graduates Mason Anderson and Elliot Zagers were recipients of the Joe L. Middleton scholarships this year. Over $158 in scholarships have been awarded in honor of Middleton since 2009.