NEW MINAS, N.S. – Don Martone ended his week just as he started, shooting a 1-over 71 to win the 2025 Canadian Men’s Senior Championship, presented by BDO on Friday at KenWo Golf Club in New Minas, N.S.
Martone of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. was the lone player in the field under par during the week. He finished with rounds of 71-63-68-71-273 to close out the national championship at 7-under, eight shots ahead of Dwight Reinhart of Ottawa, Ont.
“It really hasn’t sunk in yet. It’s pretty special and you think back to all the past champions that have won this thing and it’s pretty surreal right now, really happy,” said a relieved Martone.
Martone was unsure he’d be able to play the final round after throwing out his back on the 12th hole during Thursday’s third round.
“Today was probably the toughest round of golf I’ve played in a really long time,” he said. “When I got up this morning I was in a lot of pain and wasn’t sure I could go today. I got up at five and was working on my back, trying to loosen it up and then you get to the course it’s a little different pressure.”
Martone, normally an aggressive player focused on keeping the ball in front of him and avoiding big numbers. While some hills were a bit of a challenge, he persevered on his way to the national title.
“It was a good mental grind today to fight through that so I’m pretty happy about that.”
Not only did Martone add his name to an impressive list of past champions at the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship, he also helped lead Team Ontario to the Inter-Provincial Team title, while setting a new tournament course record at KenWo, describing the week as one of his top weeks in golf.
“I put this up there with making the Canadian Tour and going through qualifying school and making that. This week has been incredible. The membership at KenWo welcomed us with open arms, everybody had a smiling face, couldn’t thank the volunteers enough. Anything you needed they were there for you, it was awesome.”
Martone will head home to the Soo where family and friends are eagerly awaiting his return to celebrate at both the Up & Down Lounge, a golf simulator lounge that he is a co-partner of, and his home course, Crimson Ridge Golf Club.
Bryan Hoops of Tempe, Ariz. Finished third at 3-over, while 2024 runner-up Jack Hall of Savannah, Ga. and two-time winner, Gene Elliott of Norwalk, Iowa finished tied for fourth at 4-over.
Along with another top five finish at the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship, Hall claimed the Super Senior Championship for a second consecutive year.
Hall finished the tournament at 4-over following rounds of 73-70-68-73-284 to win by five shots over 2023 Canadian Men’s Senior champion, Doug Hanzel of Savannah, Ga. Hall defeated Hanzel in a playoff last year at Saugeen Golf Club in Saugeen Shores, Ont. to claim the Super Senior title after Hanzel won both titles a year prior.
On Wednesday, Team Ontario claimed the Inter-Provincial Team Championship, ending Team Alberta’s impressive run at the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship. Ontario finished the tournament with a combined score of 1-under, to win by 11 shots. Along with Martone, Ontario was represented by Mike Kray of Oakville, Ont. and Ashley Chinner of Brooklin, Ont.
With Ontario’s win, Alberta’s run of four consecutive inter-provincial team titles at the Men’s Senior Championship came to an end. The defending champs finished tied for second with Team New Brunswick at 10-over. Team Quebec (15-over) and Team Manitoba (16-over) rounded out the top five.
In addition to winning the national championship, Martone will receive exemptions into the 2026 Canadian Men’s Amateur Championship, 2026 Canadian Men’s Mid-Amateur Championship, 2026 Canadian Men’s Senior Championship (plus a 10-year exemption, if eligible) and the 2026 U.S. Senior Amateur Championship.
The national championship was established in 1962 for golfers aged 55-and-over and includes a Super Senior division for golfers 65-and-over that was introduced in 1995. The national championship consists of 72 holes of stroke-play with a cut to the low 70 plus ties and at least five Super Seniors after 36 holes. The Super Senior Championship is contested concurrently over the four rounds of the championship.
For the final leaderboard following the 2025 Canadian Men’s Senior Championship, presented by BDO, please click here.
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