Kelly Masson and Emma Bittorf round out 2025 All Abilities Championship with wins in Men’s and Women’s Net Stableford divisions respectively
KAMLOOPS, B.C. – Natasha Stasiuk of Oakville, Ont. put the finishing touches on her fifth-consecutive wire-to-wire victory at the Canadian All Abilities Championship, presented by BDO, on Thursday while Josh Williams of Tavistock, Ont. fired a 3-under 69 to nab his maiden win at the tournament and cap off a thrilling 54 holes at The Dunes at Kamloops in Kamloops, B.C.
The victories secure both Stasiuk and Williams a spot in the 2026 U.S. Adaptive Open taking place July 6-8 at Woodmont Country Club (South Course) in Rockville, M.D. The event, which the United States Golf Association (USGA) debuted in 2022, will mark the second and third appearance for Williams and Stasiuk respectively, the latter looking to repeat her first place finish in the intellectual impairment category from 2024.
“It means everything to me to qualify for the USGA Adaptive Open 2026,” said Stasiuk following her round. It’s very competitive event and I am friends with a lot of people there and it feels like home. But I am proud Canadian and love the Golf Canada tournament but I also I love representing Canada on an international level,” she added.
Stasiuk shot an 11-over 83 in the final round to complete her fifth victory in as many years, firing rounds of 82-86-83=251 to finish 28 strokes ahead of Emma Bittorf of Strathmore, Alta. in the Women’s Gross Stroke Play Championship.
“Being a five-time champion means a lot to me because I have come a long way in my golf development, I still got work to do to be the best, I try to improve each day,but it’s nice to be rewarded for my hard work, and I look forward to defending my title next year.”
Williams jumped into the lead three holes into Thursday’s final round and never relinquished his position at the top of the Men’s Gross Stroke Play leaderboard, rolling in birdie putts on Nos. 4, 5, 11 and 15 to seal the deal on his come-from-behind win.
“I’ve won a lot of tournaments over the years, but none would be considered this high profile, I don’t think I’ve quite let it sink in that I won a national event,” commented an elated Williams following his round on Thursday. His only blemish came at the par-4 18th, solidifying his 54-hole score of 71-70-69=210 to claim Men’s Gross Stroke Play Championship.
Williams’ playing partner, Josh Hunke of New Dundee, Ont., led after each of the tournament’s opening two rounds but was unable to recover from a pair of early bogeys on Thursday to complete the wire-to-wire triumph. Hunke fell into second place following the second bogey of his final round at the par-4 third hole but clawed his way back to even par with birdies at the seventh, 10th and 15th to maintain his runner-up finish and finish two strokes behind Williams at 4-under.
The two players have a friendly history and currently live just twenty minutes apart from one another in eastern Ontario. Williams praised the ball striking abilities of Hunke following his round and noted how his own ability to strike the ball as well as his hometown mate will have to improve if he wishes to defend his title in 2026.
“If [Hunke] even putted half decent, he would have won this tournament for fun… I know he’s going to find that putter and it’s going to be a problem,” added Williams.
In the Men’s Net Stableford division, Kelly Masson of Grande Prairie, Alta. pieced together a strong finish to surge back into contention and retain his 36-hole lead. Randall Mackus of Prince George, B.C. made claiming the Men’s Net Stableford Championship an uphill battle for Masson on Thursday, teeing off earlier in the day and setting the pace with 37 Stableford points to grab the clubhouse lead at 108 total Stableford points.
Kelly Masson holds trophy at All Abilities Championship / Brian Johnson / Golf Canada
After netting 18 Stableford points at the turn, Masson found another gear on the back nine, collecting his tournament best 21 points over the last nine holes to take the lead for good with 112 total Stableford points.
Bittorf collected 32 Stableford points on Thursday to reel in 36-hole leader, Stasiuk, and successfully defend her 2024 title in the Women’s Net Stableford division. Bittorf trailed Stasiuk by a single stroke heading into Thursday’s round and used a hot start to propel herself into the lead. With 15 points through her first nine holes, Bittorf continued to add to her total, collecting nine Stableford points on holes 10 through 13 before entering the clubhouse with six points through her last three holes. She finished the tournament with 90 total Stableford points and a two-point victory over Stasiuk.
Emma Bittorf holds trophy at All Abilities Championship / Brian Johnson / Golf Canada
This year marked the fifth playing of the Canadian All Abilities Championship; an event that debuted at Humber Valley Golf Course in Toronto, Ont. in 2021 and has since run annually to support Golf Canada’s commitment to fostering a more inclusive and respectful sport environment throughout the nation’s golf community.
“It’s just amazing how far the sport has come in the last four or five years to have national sport organizations like Golf Canada and the USGA and even provincial governing bodies and state governing bodies in the U.S. step up and start hosting these high-profile events,” praised Williams.
The Women’s Gross Stroke Play, Women’s Net Stableford, Men’s Gross Stroke Play and Men’s Net Stableford make up the four different divisions that players compete in each year – regardless of disability – throughout the competition’s 54 holes.
The stableford scoring format of the Canadian All Abilities Championship awards set points based off a golfer’s net score for the hole. The points are awarded as follows: Albatross (5 points), Eagle (4 points), Birdie (3 points), Par (2 points), Bogey (1 point), Double Bogey or higher (0 points).
To view the final leaderboard from the fifth playing of the Canadian All Abilities Championship, presented by BDO, please click here.
