The "Legend" of Ridgeway: A Sit-Down with #1 Ranked Senior Amateur Dave Bunker

Dave Bunker: Senior Golfer Reaches #1

Joanne Hruska

Canadian Amateur Golf

March 1, 2026

In the world of amateur golf, there are "lifers," and then there is Dave Bunker.

While many of his peers were honing their games at private clubs in their twenties, Bunker was in a classroom. For 30 years, the Ridgeway, Ontario, resident served as a middle school teacher in North York, fitting his competitive schedule into the narrow window of a Canadian summer. Now retired, the man often called a "legend" by fellow competitors—including NHL referee and amateur star Garrett Rank—is currently experiencing a second act that most golfers only dream of.

As of early 2026, Bunker sits atop the AmateurGolf.com Senior Rankings. Following a blistering start to the year that saw him win his first three tournaments at Plantation’s Senior Invitational, Heron Creek Senior Invitational, and the Golfweek Player of the Year Classic, we caught up with the 2018 Ontario Golf Hall of Fame inductee to talk about his rise to #1 and why he's playing the best golf of his life at age 60.

Dave Bunker (photo credit USGA)

On the Recent Surge to #1

CAG: Dave, first off, congratulations. You’re 3-for-3 so far in 2026, and you’ve officially taken over the top spot in the senior rankings at AmateurGolf.com. How does that sound?

DB: It’s a bit surreal, to be honest. You look at the names on that list—guys I’ve competed against for years in the U.S. and overseas—and it’s humbling. My goal has always been to just stay competitive, but to see that "#1" next to my name and "Canada" next to that... it’s a proud achievement.

CAG: You’ve been on a tear: three wins in less than three weeks to start 2026. What’s clicked recently?

DB: Consistency. My 2025 season was solid—a T-5 at the British Senior, top 10s at the Jones Cup and the Florida Senior—but I felt like I was "knocking on the door" without walking through. This winter in Florida, I’ve managed to turn those solid rounds into wins. At Heron Creek, I had a three-shot lead, let it slip a bit with a 76 in the second round, but I stayed composed and shot 71 when it mattered. It’s about not having those "glaring weaknesses" that can derail a week.

The "Retired Teacher" Advantage

CAG: You spent three decades teaching while maintaining one of the best amateur résumés in Canadian history. How has retirement changed your approach?

DB: It’s all about the preparation. When I was teaching, I was essentially a "weekend warrior" with summers available to play a short tournament schedule. Now, I can actually travel and play a full U.S.-based schedule. Being able to spend the winter in Venice and play year-round has been the difference-maker. I’m not starting my season in May anymore; it just continues basically year-round.

CAG: Your wife, Lisa, is an occasional presence on your bag. How much of this #1 ranking belongs to her?

DB: Most of it! (Laughs). Lisa is a huge part of the success. She knows my game, she knows when to tell me to settle down, and when to have me eat and drink during rounds. We enjoy the travel together; it’s a team effort. Having her presence with me is invaluable.

A Look at the Résumé

Bunker’s career is a masterclass in longevity. While he is currently dominating the senior ranks, his trophy case is already overflowing:

• 3 Consecutive Canadian Mid-Amateur Titles (2008, 2009, 2010)

• 7 Canadian Mid-Master Championships

• 2008 Ontario Amateur Champion

• 2018 Ontario Golf Hall of Fame Inductee

• 4 Ontario Mid-Amateur Championships

• 4 Ontario Match Play Championships

• 2 Ontario Senior Championships

• 2021 Florida Senior Championship

• Multiple U.S. Senior Open Appearances

What’s Next for the King of the Seniors?

CAG: You’ve won just about everything there is to win in Canada, and you’re #1 in the AmateurGolf.com rankings. What’s left on the bucket list?

DB: The big ones now are the national senior titles: Golf Canada, USGA, R&A, or European Golf Association. I made the U.S. Senior Amateur semifinals in 2021 and the quarterfinals in 2024. In match play, anything can happen, but that’s one I’d love to add to the trophy room. And of course, defending the ranking. There are some incredible players right behind me, so I have to keep the foot on the gas.

CAG: Finally, for the amateur golfers back home in Ontario currently hitting into nets in their garages: what’s the secret to getting better after 50?

DB: I'm old enough to know that you have to play the way the golf course allows. Fairways are always good, and greens in regulation lead to consistency. With younger guys, that sort of thing doesn't matter. At this age, it’s about stability and the short game. If you can stay out of trouble, you’ll be surprised how many younger guys you can outscore.