​Looking back on his week at the Golf Club of Georgia, Steve Maddalena could confidently say that he started strong and finished strong, a sentiment that, according to the Michigan Golf Hall of Famer, is “I guess what mattered.” But Maddalena’s week was about more than just a solid start and finish; it unfolded as a steady run that culminated in a one-shot victory at the Golfweek Super Senior National Championship. The 66-year-old from Jackson, Michigan finished one stroke ahead of Stevie Cannady, who had won this event two years prior.
For Maddalena, the triumph carried extra significance because national senior titles have been scarce in recent months. He last claimed the Society of Seniors National Super Senior title last fall, and he joked that “since then it’s been slim pickin’s for the old guy. It’s good to finally see some results from the work I’ve been putting in.” The veteran golfer admits his form hasn’t always felt at its best lately, with putting the primary issue looming over his game. A breakthrough came when a friend filmed his stroke and pointed out the flaws, providing the missing piece he needed. With that insight, his performance improved markedly. He had only one three-putt the entire week and went 31 holes before encountering a bogey. “That was a real boost,” Maddalena said of his improved putting, adding, “because I usually hit the ball pretty good, I don’t miss fairways very often—my irons are usually pretty accurate. It’s usually the putting that holds me back, and that was finally a bright spot for me, so it was the big difference, honestly.”
In Georgia, Maddalena emerged as the champion at the Golf Club of Georgia. He opened with rounds of 69 and 71, grabbing the lead with 18 holes remaining. He carried a five-shot advantage into the final nine holes, having turned in a 2-under score after a birdie on the ninth. Yet Cannady mounted a late challenge, applying pressure with steady play as Maddalena sought to hold on. The title ultimately hinged on the closing moments and a clutch birdie on the par-5 final hole.
“We got to the last hole and I had a one-shot lead, and Steve hit it in there pretty tight to about 10 feet,” Maddalena recalled. “Then I hit a little pitching wedge to about 12, 15 feet and I putted it first and made it, fortunately, because I knew he was going to make his putt the way he was playing.” Maddalena signed for a closing 73, finishing at 3-under par, while Cannady finished at 2-under. The next-best score came from Keith Holmes of Macon, Georgia, who was 3 over.
With the victory secured, Maddalena turned his focus back to Michigan for a string of closer-to-home events. He planned to play a local senior county open and bring along his 88-year-old father, Roger, for his first on-course outing in a long while. “I know it’s not a big deal, but it is, kind of, because I know my dad is going to be with me,” Maddalena said, underscoring how much the moment meant personally. Later in the month, he would also attempt a U.S. Senior Amateur qualifier, aiming to keep building momentum from his Golf Club of Georgia triumph.
As Maddalena looks ahead, the first-rate performance at the Golfweek Super Senior National Championship stands as a reminder that consistent play, combined with a timely improvement in putting, can translate into meaningful wins and renewed confidence for a player who remains deeply committed to competing at a high level.