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About Carson
About Carson
We are super excited to have Carson Bertagnole as a Guest Feature on Junior Golf Nerd! Being ranked 4th (!!) in the nation, Carson is no stranger to high-quality golf. His recent play is highlighted by a win at last year's AJGA Team Taylormade invitational as well as an abundance of top finishes at elite junior tournaments. Carson is signed to play golf for the University of North Carolina this fall.
Question 1: Tell us more about yourself, your junior golf, and where you are right now.
Answer: My name is Carson Bertagnole and I am from Pinehurst, North Carolina. I am committed to The University of North Carolina. I grew up in Wyoming and moved to Pinehurst when I was 13, started playing tournaments when I was 7, and started AJGAs when I was 13 or 14.
Junior Golf Nerd: Carson has been a golfer since a young age and travelled all over the country before ending up in America's golf heaven, Pinehurst!
Q2: How do you currently track your stats and data during practice and tournaments? Do you use specific tools, apps, or systems?
Answer: If I am being honest, this is a weakness of mine, I don't track my stats too much. The biggest thing I look at is greens hit in reg.
JGN: Carson brings an interesting perspective here. Even though some juniors are super involved in tracking stats, it is important to note that some of them also do not. It is interesting that a top golfer like Carson does not track his stats, but he still definitely pays attention to GIR, a statistic that all junior golfers should strive to improve upon.
Q3: What are the most important metrics you focus on to improve your game? How have these evolved as you've grown as a player?
Answer: I focus on my irons the most. I have always felt like my irons are a weakness. When I hit a lot of greens in a round this is when I usually play the best; I am a pretty good putter, so that's why for me, I just need to hit greens.
JGN: This disparity between different areas of the game is actually common for a lot of junior golfers. It is important to focus the most on the weakest part of your game. As Carson notes, when that weakness is functioning well, you can play at your best.
Q4: You are ranked very well in many junior golf ranking systems(JGS, AJGA, etc.). What is your opinion on these rankings? Are they fair? Where can they be improved? Which one is the most fair and why?
Answer: I think for the most part the ranking systems are fair. I think that JGS is the most fair because it doesn't just track finish - it tracks score, playing field, and the course rating.
JGN: In our opinion, Carson is correct in stating that JGS is the most fair ranking system. As he stated, JGS tracks a variety of different factors like scoring differential and field strength, which is extremely important to consider when establishing rankings for junior golfers.
Q5: What is your favorite junior golf tournament and why?
Answer: My favorite tournament is probably the AJGA Simplify Boys Championship at Carlton Woods. It is just so much fun, and it also helps you realize that golf is not everything because it recognizes fallen soldiers. The tournament is overall just run so smoothly.
JGN: The AJGA Simplify is certainly a great tournament, and Carson is doing a great favor by giving it some recognition. It is a unioque tournament that honors veterans and fallen soldiers, unlike any other in junior golf. It is also played at Carlton Woods, an extremely difficult course that also hosts the LPGA's Chevron Championship.
Q6: What do you remember as your best performance in a tournament ever? What memories did you have? What made you play well?
Answer: I remember just having a ton of fun and I was hitting the ball really good. It was the AJGA Team Taylormade, and I really just didn't miss the whole week, I stayed in a cottage on the course with one of my buddies and we just had a blast the whole week.
JGN: The AJGA Team Taylormade was a huge win for Carson, and it is easy to see how that happened. Whenever a player is "in the groove," they are hard to stop, just like Carson was. Almost as important is keeping the mood light, and Carson did just that by having a good time with his friends at the cottage.
Q7: Take us through your typical training schedule. With more freedom and resources, how do you want to improve this in college?
Answer: I usually go twice a week, unless I'm gone for a tournament or otherwise, to a sports trainer. He really just helps me make sure I am in the right positions so that my body can correctly hit it well and consistent, without risk of injury, I have ways had low back pain and this helps to limit that. In college, I just want to get stronger and gain a little ball speed.
JGN: Carson is very dedicated to his strength training and maintaining his health, which is a good reminder for other junior golfers out there. Since many junior golfers will experience some injuries (especially lower back), it is important to at least go to a professional once in a while to make sure you are doing the right things for your body.
Q8: What about the University of North Carolina makes you most excited?
Answer: I am most excited about just playing with the team and being able to show my ability and prove that I belong. I also just look forward to being able to practice on one of the best facilities in the world.
JGN: Carson is certainly determined to make his mark on college golf, and he will have the perfect tools to do so at UNC. With access to Finley Golf Club and other elite college golfers, we certainly believe Carson will do great in college!
We want to give a huge thank you to Carson for his time and kindness to do this Guest Feature. If you enjoyed this feature, please share it with a friend and check us out on Instagram:
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