Final national championship of the season features a field of 156 golfers competing for the senior title along with a super senior division and an inter-provincial team competition
NEW MINAS, N.S. – The 2025 Canadian Men’s Senior Championship, presented by BDO is set for September 9-12 with a field of 156 amateur golfers competing over four rounds at KenWo Golf Club in New Minas, N.S.
The field competing for the John Rankin Memorial Trophy features four past champions including Doug Hanzel of Savannah, Ga. (2023), Rusty Strawn of Eatonton, Ga. (2022), Darren Ritchie of St. John, N.B. (2021) and two-time winner, Gene Elliott of Norwalk, Iowa (2019, 2017).
Along with the past champions, among those in the field are Ronnie Clark of Renfrewshire, Scotland. Clark is a two-time Scottish Senior Men’s Open champion (2018, 2022) and recently won the 2025 Italian Senior Men’s Open Championship and the French Senior Men’s Open Championship in 2024. Rupert Kellock of Basingstoke, England will also be in the field. Kellock won the 2020 English Senior Men’s Amateur Championship and progressed into the semifinals of this year’s event. In addition, the 2024 Ontario Senior Men’s champion, Dave Bunker of Ridgeway, Ont., who has four consecutive top 10 finishes at the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship will also be in the field.
“We are very excited to welcome a strong field featuring four past champions and a number of accomplished players competing for our Canadian Men’s Senior Championship this week at KenWo Golf Club,” said Daniel Suppa, Tournament Director, Golf Canada. “We appreciate everything that the staff, volunteers and host committee at KenWo have done to ensure the field experiences a great test and a memorable Maritime experience.”
Located in the heart of the beautiful Annapolis Valley, KenWo Golf Club was formed in 1921. This member-owned course has been welcoming guests to its championship location for years and continues to be recognized as one of the friendliest places to play in the Maritimes. Being one of the oldest clubs in Nova Scotia, KenWo boasts a challenging 18-hole layout over 6,300 yards.
In recent years, the club has played host to the Canadian Women’s Amateur Championship, recognizing its reputation as a challenging course. KenWo hosts the annual Apple Blossom Invitational in May, a tournament that attracts several of the province’s top male amateurs. KenWo has a course rating of 71.7 and a slope of 137 from the Championship tees.
The immaculately groomed and tree-lined traditional layout originally consisted of 6-holes in 1921 and by 1924, a 9-hole course was in operation. KenWo grew to an 18-hole course in 1964 and now plays host to approximately 40,000 rounds annually. KenWo Golf Club prides itself on delivering golfers of all levels a very welcoming and enjoyable experience. It has been recognized by the golfing community as “a must-play in the Maritimes” for many years.
“We are incredibly proud to welcome the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship to KenWo—our sixth national championship and a proud moment in our club’s storied 104-year history. It’s an honour to host the country’s top senior players, along with some international players, and provide them with the true test of golf that our golf course is known for,” said Rene MacKay, Director of Golf & Operations, KenWo Golf Club. “We look forward to showcasing not only our challenging layout, but also the warm hospitality and strong community that make KenWo so special.”
The Canadian Men’s Senior 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. In addition, the Senior Inter-Provincial Team Championship was added in 1977 and runs concurrently through the first 36 holes of the tournament.
Team Alberta will be seeking its fifth consecutive Inter-Provincial Team Championship and seventh in the past eight playing’s of the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship. Brian Laubman of Edmonton, Alta. and David Schultz of Calgary, Alta. are returning to defend the team title and are joined this year by Kevin Temple of Calgary.
A trio of Canadian Golf Hall of Famers lead the way having won the most Canadian Men’s Senior Championships in tournament history including, Bob Wylie of Calgary, Alta. with seven (1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1995). Nick Weslock of Oakville, Ont. with six (1973, 1974, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1983) and Graham Cooke of Hudson, Que. with four (2001, 2002, 2008 and 2009).
The champion 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.
For the full player field competing in the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship, presented by BDO, please click here.
