UNC's Dominant Fall Golf Season Keeps Rolling — But Can They Keep the Momentum?
The North Carolina Men’s Golf Team is on a tear this fall, and their recent performance has only strengthened that narrative. The Tar Heels continued their impressive run by securing a strong second-place finish at the Fighting Irish Classic, held at Notre Dame’s Warren Golf Course in South Bend, Indiana. But here’s where it gets interesting—UNC led for most of the tournament before a dramatic last-round surge from another powerhouse changed everything.
Heading into the final day of the 54-hole event, Carolina held a slim one-stroke advantage over UCLA. Yet the Bruins came out firing on Tuesday, carding a seven-under-par finish that propelled them three shots clear of the Tar Heels by the end. The two programs were the only teams to finish under par, a testament to how tough the competition and conditions were. Among the other big-name programs in the field were Notre Dame, Louisville, Purdue, Iowa, Tennessee, Oklahoma State, and Indiana—all respected programs with deep rosters, making UNC’s showing even more impressive.
Leading the charge for Carolina was standout freshman Carson Bertagnole, who earned medalist honors after rounds of 67, 64, and 73—good for a six-under total of 204. But his victory wasn’t handed to him; it came in true dramatic fashion. Bertagnole found himself in a three-way playoff with Iowa’s Maxwell Tjoa and Tennessee’s Lance Simpson. On the second playoff hole, the Pinehurst native drained a thrilling 35-foot putt to claim the individual title. A freshman sinking a clutch putt under pressure—could this be the start of a star career for UNC?
According to Steve Kirschner from UNC’s Athletic Department, Bertagnole becomes the tenth Tar Heel golfer to win medalist honors during head coach Andrew DiBitetto’s tenure—a sign of the program’s enduring strength and development under his lead.
The Tar Heels’ finish in South Bend was especially notable given their packed fall schedule. Just the week before, they tied for first place at the prestigious Ben Hogan Collegiate Invitational, hosted at the famed Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas. In that event, North Carolina shared the top spot with Texas, Vanderbilt, and Virginia. That victory marked Coach DiBitetto’s 25th team title in nine seasons at the helm—a remarkable run for any collegiate program. Andrew Riley and Keaton Vo both earned top-15 finishes, tying for 13th at two-over-par.
A few weeks earlier, UNC also captured second place behind LSU at the Jackson T. Stephens Cup in Lake Bluff, Illinois—a tournament that gained extra visibility with its match play finals featured on the Golf Channel. The Tar Heels kicked off their season with a sixth-place finish at the challenging Sahalee Players Championship in Washington, an event known for testing even the most composed golfers with its tight fairways and difficult greens.
So, how consistent have the Tar Heels been across this busy fall slate? Here’s a by-the-numbers breakdown of their performances:
Sahalee Players Championship
- Team: 6th place (+21, 885)
- Carson Bertagnole – T24 (+6, 222)
- Andrew Riley – T24 (+6, 222)
- Sihan Sandhu – T24 (+6, 222)
- Grant Roscich – T30 (+8, 224)
- Keaton Vo – T55 (+15, 231)
Jackson T. Stephens Cup
- Team: 2nd place (-11, 829)
- Keaton Vo – T3 (-4, 206)
- Andrew Riley – T7 (-3, 207)
- Carson Bertagnole – T13 (-1, 209)
- Niall Sheils-Donegan – T16 (E, 210)
- Sihan Sandhu – T25 (+2, 212)
Ben Hogan Collegiate Invitational
- Team: T1 (+10, 850)
- Andrew Riley – T13 (+2, 212)
- Keaton Vo – T13 (+2, 212)
- Niall Sheils-Donegan – T17 (+3, 213)
- Carson Bertagnole – T27 (+4, 214)
- Sihan Sandhu – T57 (+12, 222)
Fighting Irish Classic
- Team: 2nd place (836)
- Carson Bertagnole – 1st (-6, 204)
- Andrew Riley – T8 (-2, 208)
- Misha Golod – T12 (+1, 211)
- Grant Roscich – T29 (+4, 214)
- Sihan Sandhu – T39 (+7, 217)
- Keaton Vo – T56 (+10, 220)
The consistency across these tournaments tells a clear story: this is not a fluke season for UNC. The team is finding balance through its roster depth and showing the ability to compete at the highest level, tournament after tournament.
But here’s the real debate—can the Tar Heels sustain this momentum when the spring season ramps up and competition tightens even more? Some believe their mix of young talent and veteran leadership could carry them to a national title run, while others say they still need more consistency on the greens. What do you think—are the Tar Heels legitimate title contenders, or is this surge just a fall-season hot streak? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments.
