Champion Steve Maddalena, Jackson, MI, with Runner-up Randal Lewis, Alma, MI
RESULTS: 2025 National Super Senior & John Kline Championships
COLUMBUS, Ohio. – The Donald Ross designed Columbus Country Club showed its teeth with deep rough and challenging greens during the final round of the 6th National Super Senior and 24th John Kline Championships.
Stephen Maddalena of Jackson, MI, rose to the occasion with a gritty comeback. Trailing by four shots entering the final round, Maddalena pieced together a steady 73 to post a tournament total of 220 (+4) and claim the Super Senior crown. Overnight leader Randal Lewis of Alma, MI, fell back with a 79 but battled to the end, finishing just two shots back at 222.
Reflecting on the victory, Maddalena, the 2025 Society of Seniors Senior Player of the Year, admitted the win felt especially meaningful given his season. “It sounds amazing, because I wasn’t playing very well. I haven’t played very well all summer, so this has been really exciting for me,” he said. “I’ve been working to get my golf game back to where it was a year ago, and it’s been a real struggle. Even this week was a grind, but I had a really good short game the last three days, and that carried me.”
The penal rough was a key challenge throughout the week. “It’s the toughest rough I’ve ever seen,” Maddalena noted. “So the short game was very important. I hit enough good shots to overcome the bad ones, and I putted really well. The greens here were beautiful — I felt comfortable on them all week. Every time I put the ball down, it seemed to roll exactly where I was looking, which gave me a lot of confidence.”
The turning point came at the par-3 13th hole. One shot behind Lewis, Maddalena stuffed a 9-iron onto the green and rolled in the birdie, while Lewis faltered with a bogey. Maddalena found himself up by two strokes through 15 holes and held the lead the rest of the way with steady golf despite a bogey on No. 16 (par 4, 418 yards). Lewis had a chance to apply some late pressure with a birdie putt on No. 18 (par 5, 542 yards), but his attempt slid just by. Maddalena faced a short par putt of his own and went ahead and brushed it in knowing he had two putts to secure the win.
As for the pressure of the final round, Maddalena kept his focus narrow. “I wasn’t looking at the leaderboard,” he said. “I was just watching the guys in my group. I figured if I stayed ahead of them, I’d be okay. With rough like this, it’s hard to make a lot of birdies, so it was about avoiding mistakes.”
Maddalena also praised the host venue. “It’s great that I could drive here from Michigan, even if it is a little stressful being in Buckeye country,” he joked. “But the course is just gorgeous, and I’ve always loved Ross designs. The staff and membership were terrific, and it was a wonderful experience.”
Robert Brooks, of West Des Moines, IA, finished third at 223 after posting the low round of the day at one-under 71, the lone round under par on the final day.
Edward Turner, Richardson, TX, 24th John Kline Championship Legend Division Champion
24th John Kline Championship Legend Division
In the Legend Division, Edward Turner, of Richardson, TX, claimed his first Society of Seniors title by two strokes over John Armstrong, of Frostburg, MD, and Marc Fried, of Solon, OH. Turner returned a three day total of two-over par 218. Don Donatoni, of West Chester, PA, finished in fourth at +5 for the tournament. Both Donatoni and Armstrong posted final rounds of even par 72.
Turner credited his recent form for giving him confidence heading into the championship. “I was coming off a win at the recent Mountain Man tournament, so I felt good,” he said. “I just tried not to think about the outcome and focused on hitting good shots.”
While he acknowledged he was aware of some of the scoring, Turner largely concentrated on his own play. “I knew kind of how Marc stood since I was keeping his scorecard, and after nine holes we were tied. But he made a couple bogeys early on the back, and I just kept steady. I didn’t realize John Armstrong was one under for most of the day — my mindset was that if I shot 74 or better, someone else would have to go under par to catch me.”
Turner also praised the course. “I loved it — it’s a great golf course in wonderful condition. The greens were close to perfect, so were the fairways. The rough was tough, but rough is rough. Overall, I really enjoyed playing here.”
Pete Allen, Southport, NC, 24th John Kline Championship Super Legend Champion
24th John Kline Championship Super Legend Division
Rounding out the competition in the Super Legend Division, Pete Allen, of Southport, NC, kept the momentum going after winning the Tutwiler with partner Donatoni back in March. Allen took the Super Legend crown by shooting the only under par total for the event at one-under 215 and won by eight strokes over runner-up Sam Robinson, of Jacksonville Beach, FL, and Gary Hardin, of Fort Worth, TX. Bill Engel, of Saint Augustine, FL, finished fourth at 227.
For Allen, it was a milestone win. “That sounds good — it’s my first individual in my 76 tries, so a beautiful thing,” he said after securing the Super Legend crown.
Allen pointed to accuracy as the key to his success. “I’m a real straight hitter, not that long, and this course fit me. If you hit it out of the fairway, you were in jail. I think I only missed one fairway, and I hit a lot of greens. I hit the ball solid all week and putted just ok — good enough to get it done.”
He was equally complimentary of the host venue. “I’d come back here tomorrow. If I lived here, I’d be playing this course all the time. It’s a great golf course, and the people here were unbelievable — so friendly and took such good care of us. The fairways and greens were perfect, and the design shows you don’t have to be long to be challenging. It certainly played tough, but it was a joy to play.”
Special thanks to the membership and staff at Columbus Country Club for hosting the event, especially host professional Ryan Coll and Superintendent Kyle Hughes. Thanks also to Callaway Golf for their continued support and sponsorship of the Society of Seniors.
Event GGID: 25SOS5
