Tournament Overview

A 54-hole stroke play golf tournament played at The Club at Carlton Woods in the beautiful Houston community of The Woodlands, where golf is one of the top activities. Entry into the Carlton Woods Invitational is strictly by invitation from the Tournament Committee. The 90-player field will be comprised of two tournament divisions, a Mid-Am Division for players aged 25-54, and a Senior Division for players aged 55 and above.

Course

Tournament News

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  RECAP: Top Mid-Ams Battle at Prestigious Carlton Woods Invitational
  Jun 04, 2025 - A playoff thriller in the Mid-Am and a wire-to-wire winner in the Senior Division
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  Shane Heise emerges from 5-way tie late to win the Carlton Woods Invitational
  Jun 13, 2024 - Mark Strickland, the 2023 Senior Open low amateur, won the Senior Division by one shot with a birdie on the final hole
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  At Carlton Woods, Hunter overcomes early disaster for playoff win
  May 05, 2022 - The former college baseball player looked out of it after #3; Robert Funk had a much different stress in grinding out a senior win
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  Hunter and Wheeler share lead at Carlton Woods Invitational
  May 04, 2022 - John Hunter, Chris Wheeler survive a swirling wind to top a crowded leaderboard; Robert Funk goes low for a 6-shot senior lead
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  Hunter and Ortego grab early leads at Carlton Woods Invitational
  May 03, 2022 - John Hunter and David Ortego of nearby Spring, Texas top the mid-am and senior leaderboards at The Club at Carlton Woods
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  Esteve captures Carlton Woods Invitational with final round 66
  May 06, 2021 - Jeronimo Esteve shoots the lowest round in CWI history to come from three shots back; David Ortego takes the senior title
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  Carlton Woods Invitational: After long day, Wheeler, Ortego lead
  May 05, 2021 - Rain altered the schedule at the CWI, but 36 holes are complete; Chris Wheeler and David Ortego lead their respective divisions
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  Philip Lee's final-round charge secures Carlton Woods win
  May 02, 2019 - The two-time Tennessee Mid-Amateur champion had a final-round 67 that helped him climb back from a four-shot deficit
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  Blanchard overtakes Deraney for 2nd-round Carlton Woods lead
  May 01, 2019 - Blanchard will take a slim lead into the final round at Carlton Woods, but the defending champion is right on his heels
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  Deraney's Carlton Woods title defense off to a good start
  Apr 30, 2019 - Joseph Deraney picked up where he left off at the Club at Carlton Woods, opening with a 68 and a three shot lead
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  Joseph Deraney wins the 13th Carlton Woods Invitational
  May 03, 2018 - One year after a disappointing runner-up finish, Deraney guts it out on the back nine for his first CWI win
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  Joseph Deraney Takes Carlton Woods Lead with 67
  May 02, 2018 - Last year's runner-up has a one shot lead over two-time champ Colby Harwell; first-round leader Tony Romo still in contention
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  Tony Romo Shares First-Round Lead at Carlton Woods
  May 01, 2018 - The former NFL quarterback joins Brian Blanchard and Ryan Eibner at the top of the leaderboard at 3 under
• 
  Justin Kaplan wins the Carlton Woods Invitational
  May 04, 2017 - On a windy day when the rest of the field was busy moving backwards Justin Kaplan fired a 1-under 71 to finish 4-under
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  Deraney and Kaplan share 36-hole Carlton Woods Lead
  May 03, 2017 - Heath Myers is the only other player under-par and he will begin Wednesday one shot back
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  Carlton Woods Invitational: Deraney and Kaplan Lead
  May 02, 2017 - Joseph Deraney and Justin Kaplan light up the Nicklaus Course at Carlton Woods with 67s; Jeff New leads the Seniors
• 
  The Carlton Woods Invitational begins Tuesday
  May 02, 2017 - Mid-Amateur winner Colby Harwell and Senior champion Lewis Stephenson are both back in Houston and ready to defend their titles
• 
  Colby Harwell wins Carlton Woods Invitational
  May 05, 2016 - Colby Harwell has gone wire-to-wire to win the Carlton Woods Invitational by one-stroke over Brady Exber and Edward Fryatt
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  Carlton Woods: Colby Harwell takes second round lead
  May 04, 2016 - On a day where there was only one under-par score Colby Harwell rose to the top of the Carlton leaderboard
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  Carlton Woods Invitational is underway
  May 02, 2016 - Derek Meinhart and Lee Sandlin look to defend titles on the difficult Tom Fazio Course at The Club at Carlton Woods
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  Derek Meinhart wins Carlton Woods Invitational
  May 07, 2015 - Meinhart, propelled by a tournament-record 67 in round two, wins Mid-Am division while Lee Sandlin tops Senior field
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  Derek Meinhart cards 67, leads by four at Carlton Woods
  May 06, 2015 - Illinois native Derek Meinhart set the 18-hole tournament scoring record with five-under 67 on Wednesday
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  Carlton Woods: Three share opening-round lead at 74
  May 05, 2015 - Mark Mance, Ed Sanchez, and John Derrick all carded two-over 74s to lead at The Club at Carlton Woods
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  Carlton Woods Invitational: Van Zandt surges for title
  May 08, 2014 - Matt Van Zandt shot a final-round 73 to slip past overnight leader Kyle Nathan for the title
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  Carlton Woods Invitational: Nathan holds lead
  May 07, 2014 - Kyle Nathan remains in the lead after two rounds at the 2014 Carlton Woods Invitational
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  Carlton Woods Invitational: Kyle Nathan takes early lead
  May 06, 2014 - Nathan shot 3-under 69 and leads by three shots over David Poteet and Brady Exber after Round 1
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  Carlton Woods Invitational tees off Tuesday
  May 04, 2014 - Defending champion Colby Harwell returns with a host of challengers
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  Harwell tops Lance at Carlton Woods Invitational
  May 10, 2013 - Colby Harwell charged from three shots back to force a playoff with 2nd-round leader Randy Lance
• Carlton Woods Invitational: Lance, Booker, Pool in contention
  May 09, 2013 - Randy Lance jumped to the lead in the Mid-Am Division while two-time defending champ Mike Booker and Doug Pool lead the Seniors
• Maxwell, Lyons lead Carlton Woods Invitational
  May 07, 2013 - Kyle Maxwell fired a 2-under 70 to lead the Mid-Am Division while Eddie Lyons tops the Seniors
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  Marsh, Booker returning to defend at Carlton Woods Invitational
  Apr 01, 2013 - Kevin Marsh will aim for his 4th Carlton Woods title while Mike Booker goes for his 3rd straight senior crown
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  Marsh wins his third Carlton Woods title
  May 10, 2012 - Kevin Marsh edged out second round co-leaders Brady Exber and Colby Harwell thanks to a final-round 70
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  Brady Exber and Joe Sanders share the lead at Carlton Woods
  May 09, 2012 - With 14 players within six shots of the lead, Thursday's final could become a classic 'Texas Shoot Out'
• 
  3 share lead at Carlton Woods Invitational
  May 08, 2012 - Brady Exber, Andrew Lawson and Joe Saunders are tied at 3-under after a 1st round that saw 10 players in the red
• 
  Carlton Woods Invitational underway
  May 07, 2012 - This year's field is regarded as one of the strongest in the Texas tournament’s seven-year history
• Carlton Woods Invitational winner to get key exemptions
  May 02, 2012 - Mid-Am and Senior division winner will receive an exemption into the Stocker Cup and the Crane Cup
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  Bartman, Booker win Carlton Woods titles
  May 13, 2011 - David Bartman of Los Angeles and Mike Booker of Texas take Mid-Am and Senior titles
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  Four players tied atop Carlton Woods Invitational leaderboard
  May 12, 2011 - Dusty Smith, Jerry Ledzinski, Mark Knecht and David Bartman are all tied after Round 2
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  Marsh wins Carlton Woods Invitational
  May 13, 2010 - Kevin Marsh of Henderson, Nevada sets a record and defends his title in the Mid-Am Division; Mike Bell of Indianapolis wins the Senior crown
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  Marsh, Pigg winners at Carlton Woods Invitational
  May 14, 2009 - Kevin Marsh of Henderson, Nevada and John Pigg of Austin, Texas win Mid-Am and Senior Divisions of Houston's up-and-coming event
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  Exber, Heise Tied for Lead at Carlton Woods Invitational
  May 13, 2009 - After a windy Wednesday, Brady Exber of Las Vegas, NV and Shane Heise of The Woodlands, TX lead the Mid-Am Division; John Pigg still leads the Seniors
• 
  Marsh, Wilson Lead Carlton Woods Invitational
  May 12, 2009 - Mid-Ams Kevin Marsh of Henderson, NV and Kenny Wilson of Murfreeboro, TN are tied at 70; John Pigg of Austin, TX leads Seniors at 72
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  Carlton Woods Invitational: Cooper wins in Playoff
  May 15, 2008 - Club at Carlton Woods member Andy Cooper wins his second title in a playoff while John John Grace coasts to senior division victory
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  Carlton Woods Invitational: Day 2 Results
  May 14, 2008 - Robby McWilliams takes a 3-shot lead in the Mid-Am Division; John Grace leads seniors by 6
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  Carlton Woods Invitational: Day 1 results
  May 13, 2008 - Dan Cook and Mark Lindberg share lead in Mid-Am flight, John Grace tops in Senior Division
• Carlton Woods Invitational: A San Antonio Sweep
  May 18, 2007 - Bob Hullender repeats in senior division, Jonathan Mathias takes mid-am in second annual tournament
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  Carlton Woods Invitational: Round 2 Results
  May 17, 2007 - Leaders Mathias and Hullender pull further from pack; Mid-am cut set at 158, senior at 157
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  Carlton Woods Invitational: First Round Results
  May 16, 2007 - San Antonio residents lead both mid-am and senior divisions
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  Carlton Woods Invitational
  May 26, 2006 - Andy Cooper of The Woodlands, TX overtakes Jerry Ledzinski of Carmel, CA to win the inaugural Carlton Woods Invitational, while Bob Hullender shoots his age to outduel reigning U.S. Senior Amateur champion Mike Rice in the Senior Division
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  Field Set for the Carlton Woods Invitational
  May 22, 2006 - Elite field of 54 mid-amateurs and 30 seniors set to compete in the inaugural event in The Woodlands, TX; real-time scoring will be available throughout
• 
  Carlton Woods Invitational Launches New Website
  Mar 01, 2006 - The latest addition to the amateurgolf.com Majors of Amateur Golf calendar, the Carlton Woods Invitational (May 23-26, 2006) will host a national field of mid-amateurs and seniors.

The Carlton Woods Invitational was established to create a tournament based upon tradition that is rich in quality and detail. We continue to build upon the history, traditions, and philosophy behind the Invitational.

The inaugural Invitational was held in 2006. The Club remains committed to developing the Invitational into one of the most-prestigious events in amateur golf. We expect to give our players a pure, traditional golf experience while paying attention to the smallest of details. The Invitational has attracted an elite national amateur field and represents one of the finest events in the U.S. The format is a three day stroke play competition for Mid- Amateur and Senior-Amateur golfers.

In the first three years, the Invitational was held on our Nicklaus Signature and Tom Fazio golf courses; both of which receive meticulous care and attention. Given the difficulty of the playing conditions, the Tournament Committee decided to hold the tournament on the same course for all three rounds, beginning in 2008. The Invitational was selected as one of Golfweek’s national designated tournaments and at that time, the practice of flying the state flags of each contestant was adopted.

An official tournament logo and winners’ trophies were designed to incorporate an American bald eagle, reminiscent of our national bird and the eagle pair who have made their home in the massive treetop nest on the 4th teebox of our Nicklaus Signature course. The “Eagle Trophy” represents the strength, pride, and tradition we are building into this tournament.

PAST CHAMPIONS

2025 Robert Gwin
2024 Shane Heise
2023 (no tournament; course renovation)
2022 John Hunter
2021 Jeronimo Esteve
2020 (canceled; COVID)
2019 Philip Lee
2018 Joe Deraney
2017 Justin Kaplan
2016 Colby Harwell
2015 Derek Meinhart
2014 Matt Van Zandt
2013 Colby Harwell
2012 Kevin Marsh
2011 David Bartman
2010 Kevin Marsh
2009 Kevin Marsh
2008 Andy Cooper
2007 Jonathan Mathias
2006 Andy Cooper