Bearchell, in his first year of eligibility for the 25-and-over tournament, carded an opening-round 75 to sit eight strokes back of Unity’s Justin Wood for the lead at The Legends Golf Course in Warman.
The three-over-par showing leaves Bearchell in an eight-way tie for 16th place overall.
The Hillcrest Golf Course competitor recorded bogeys on the second and fourth holes, but got one shot back with a birdie on the 533-yard par-five sixth. A bogey on the ninth saw Bearchell cap the front nine with a two-over 38.
A bogey-birdie-bogey-bogey start to the back nine saw Bearchell jump to four-over, but a string of four pars followed by a birdie on the par-five 18th would send him in with a 37 and a 75 overall.
The tournament continues with round two on Wednesday and the final round on Thursday.
The Mid-Amateur is taking place concurrently with the 109th annual Amateur Men’s championship, with Ty Campbell of Saskatoon tied with Wood for the lead after also shooting an opening-round 67. Bearchell sits tied for 34th in that draw.
The Women’s Amateur is also currently underway at The Legends, with perennial contender Kathy Ziglo from Saskatoon tied with the lead with Yorkton’s Ella Kozak after shooting a four-over 76.
