Calgary’s Wes Martin Wins Final Qualifier to Book Tee Time for 2025 Rogers Charity Classic
Michael Jonzon and Tommy Gainey secure final two spots
CALGARY— Calgary’s Wes Martin will become the fourth Canadian to have a tee time at the 2025 Rogers Charity Classic after he won low medallist honours in Tuesday’s qualifying event.
Martin, a member at Inglewood Golf and Country Club in the heart of the Stampede City, fired a sizzling bogey-free round of 62 (-9) in the final qualifier contested at Highwood Golf.
“I can’t believe it. The game feels good, but I just did not expect this,” said Martin, who played the Canadian Tour for 12 years. “I had three lip outs today and even missed a couple of three footers. It was crazy what kind of day it was. I just think the big guy was looking out for me today.”
The 52-year-old had come close in his last two attempts to get into a PGA TOUR Champions event. He wasn’t going to let the opportunity slip away during this 18-hole spin on home turf. Martin, who is a pipefitter during the winter months, carded one eagle and seven birdies to win by three shots.
“I eagled the fourth hole, and then I started thinking. I told myself earlier in the year that if you start thinking about what might be, don’t fight it, just let it happen, but when it’s time to hit your shot, hit it,” he added. “This shows I’m doing the right things, putting the work in and thinking the right way out there. I’m going to be nervous. I was nervous today, but I’m going to go enjoy it. I’ll have a bunch of family and friends out to watch me. I’d love to play like this again, but we’ll see what happens.”
Tommy “Two Gloves” Gainey had the best 50th birthday present a professional golfer could imagine. Gainey secured one of the final three spots one day prior to his milestone birthday after he finished deadlocked with Sweden’s Michael Jonzon at 65 (-6) to round out the 78-man field that will battle for the $2.5million purse, August 15-17.
Martin will sport the red maple leaf on his golf bag this week at Canyon Meadows Golf and Country Club along with Mike Weir, Stephen Ames, and Gordon Burns.
Highwood Golf was in pristine condition for the final qualifying opportunity for Canada’s lone PGA TOUR Champions event with 23 players battling for three spots.