Ontario ends Team Alberta’s bid for five straight team titles at Men’s Senior Championship; Don Martone leads Senior division following round of 63
NEW MINAS, N.S. – Team Ontario has claimed the Inter-Provincial Team Championship, ending Team Alberta’s impressive run at the 2025 Canadian Men’s Senior Championship, presented by BDO at KenWo Golf Club in New Minas, N.S.
Don Martone of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont. fired a 7-under 63 to lead his team to victory and claim the Inter-Provincial Team Championship for the first time since 2015. Martone’s round has also launched him to the top of the leaderboard in the Senior division and set a new tournament course record at KenWo Golf Club. Ontario finished the tournament with a combined score of 1-under, to win by 11 shots.
“We’re on the back of Don Martone all the way home,” said teammate Ashley Chinner of Brooklin, Ont. who shot a 4-over 74 on Wednesday.
““First time as a senior and first time on a team, all I did was watch Don pull balls out of holes the last hour,” said teammate Mike Kray of Oakville, Ont. with a laugh. Kray’s 3-over 73 counted toward the team score for a second consecutive day.
“It was pretty special, that was one of the goals for the week being a rookie this year. I was looking at the program and Alberta’s been kicking everybody’s butt, so it was nice to bring it home today for Ontario,” said Martone.
With Ontario’s win, Alberta’s run of four consecutive inter-provincial team titles at the Men’s Senior Championship has now come 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) round out the top five.
Martone now leads the senior championship by five shots over Trent Gregory of Wake Forest, N.C. and Carlos Aranada of Springfield, Va. Gregory recorded a 1-under 69 on Wednesday to follow up and even par 70 opening round to sit at 1-under for the tournament. Aranda was equally as hot as Martone, firing a 6-under 64 to jump into red figures after an opening round of 5-over 75.
Getting off to a good start was key today according to Martone after a tough start to his opening round on Tuesday.
“I was a little nervous but got off to a really good start. Hit it close on one and that kind of settled me down and made a few putts,” said Martone who opened with three birdies through seven holes.
Martone followed up his strong start by adding four more birdies and an eagle on the back nine, closing the final four holes at 4-under thanks to a birdie-par-eagle-birdie finish. While he enjoyed a successful day, he was quick to point out one area that can easily change a round.
“The greens are diabolical here…fast…you get on the wrong side you can make some big numbers here,” he added.
Despite holding a strong lead, Martone won’t change his plans heading into the final 36-holes.
“Not going to worry about what’s going on behind me and focus on what I have to do,” he added.
James Varnam of Edmonton, Alta. sits for fourth with Michael Kennedy of North Vancouver, B.C. at even par. Varnam also leads the Super Senior division by three shots over Jack Hall of Savannah, Ga. and David Schultz of Calgary, Alta. The Super Senior division is for players aged 65-and-older.
The 156-player field has now been cut to the low 66 plus ties (77 players total) at the 2025 Canadian Men’s Senior Championship.
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.
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 leaderboard following the second round of the Canadian Men’s Senior Championship, presented by BDO, please click here.
