The doors to Cartersville (Georgia) Country Club do not often open to outside tournaments. When they do, members make sure that doors are also opening for others.
Cartersville, a private facility in the foothills of the North Georgia mountains and just 50 miles from Atlanta up Interstate 75, has fully embraced the International Senior Invitational since it debuted at their golf course in 2023. Jonathan Mattox, general manager at Cartersville, said as many as 70 members will volunteer at the tournament throughout the week. Local high school players also come out to see the competition, as the field typically includes a handful of U.S. Golf Association champions. The event even has a title sponsor: Cartersville Georgia Power.
The International Senior, to be played Oct. 8-11, is a nationally ranked “tournament within a tournament.” An individual champion will be crowned after 54 holes, as well as a three-man team champion based on a three-count-two format.
“Being a private club, we typically don’t do many outside events,” Mattox said, “but our membership and our board just really loves having this tournament every year due to the fact that we are able to help several organizations here in town with some funds and also get to showcase our little town.”
Mattox is referring to the International Senior Invitational’s charitable arm, which annually raises about $10,000 for a local charity selected prior to the event. Funds raised through this year’s tournament will benefit Advocates for Children, which offers services for children and families in Northwest Georgia. More specifically, funds will help the nonprofit’s Newman House, a transitional housing facility for families in distress.
A year ago, Doug Hanzel, the 2013 U.S. Senior Amateur champion, led a Georgia team to victory at the International Senior while also claiming the individual title for himself. Hanzel isn’t in the field this year, but one of his teammates is. Bob Royak, the 2019 U.S. Senior Amateur champion, is among three U.S. Senior Am champs teeing it up in 2025.
The International Senior Invitational is set to be a standout event, featuring a lineup of proven champions and rising stars in the senior amateur ranks.
At the top of the list is Mike McCoy, the reigning U.S. Senior Amateur champion who most recently triumphed at Oak Hills Country Club in San Antonio. McCoy is the only player in history to win both the U.S. Mid-Am (2013) and the U.S. Senior Am (2025). McCoy also brings leadership experience and prestige, having served as a winning Walker Cup captain in 2023.
Joining him in that category are fellow USGA title-winners Rusty Strawn (2022 U.S. Senior Am champion) and of course Royak, making this one of the deepest senior amateur fields in memory.
Adding further intrigue are international players, Derik Patton and Joe Lyons, both of whom arrive with impressive records of their own.
Patton captured the 2021 Irish Senior Men’s Amateur Open title, winning by a single shot. He has proven his ability to thrive in international competition under pressure.
Joe Lyons is among Ireland’s most decorated senior amateurs, with a string of notable victories: He has claimed multiple Irish Senior Men’s Amateur Close Championships and the West of Ireland Championship, and in 2025 added the Ulster Senior Men’s title to his portfolio. He has also represented Ireland with distinction on the European stage, winning a European silver medal and securing victories in the Spanish, Portuguese, and Irish senior amateur championships.
Kevin VandenBerg, the No. 1-ranked player in the Golfweek National Senior Amateur Rankings, will tee it up, and so will Todd Doss, No. 3 in those rankings. Interestingly, Doss is a member of the Louisiana three-man team captained by Billy Jo Toliver, a former NFL quarterback. Another former pro quarterback, Stan Humphries, is also in the field.
Cartersville annually fields a team for the event, while Cartersville member and International Senior Invitational board member, Chad Branton, will lead a team consisting of Strawn and Royak.
Teams range from many of the southeastern states to as far west as Washington. Scotland, Ireland, England, and Denmark are also represented.
When the players arrive at Cartersville Country Club, they’ll be greeted by lightning-fast greens, Mattox said, and rough that puts a premium on hitting fairways.
“We’ve made a little modification to No. 1 that we look forward to them seeing this year – we added some bunkers and gave the opening hole a new look off the tee,” Mattox said, “so we’re excited to see what they think when they come.”
Ron Gaines contributed to this article.
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