4th-generation golfer Carson Herron balances family tradition with making own name

If one day Carson Herron lives out his dream and qualifies for the U.S. Open, he’ll represent the fourth straight generation from his family to play in golf’s grandest tournament. Until then – or even if that day never comes – he just wants to be the best golfer he can be.

Click the video box on this page to watch KSTP Sports’ story on Carson Herron as it aired as well as Chris Long’s full conversation with Carson as they discuss the Herron family’s tradition of golf and where Carson hopes his genetic gift for the game – and his hard work – might take him

Herron closed out his final season of high school golf at Minnetonka with a seventh place finish at the State Class AAA Boys Tournament. He placed 30th as a sophomore, and the pandemic took out the tourney his junior year.

He’s also been a fixture on local and regional junior golf tournaments, having placed second in last summer’s Minnesota Boys PGA Junior Championship, and won the 2020 ‘Sota Series Match Play Championship.

Among his teammates Carson’s known as "Lumpy Junior", an homage to Carson’s father Tim – a Wayzata-native and well-known pro golfer with four PGA Tour wins over the course of his career. Tim currently plays on the Champions Tour, where he earned his best finish two weeks ago at the event in Des Moines.

RELATED: Carson Herron named Golfweek "Golf Father of the Year" in 2002

Carson’s nickname comes from his father, but his given name comes from his great-grandfather and grandfather – both named Carson.

All three – Tim, and the two elder Carsons – played in U.S. Opens. The youngest Carson hopes to follow in all of their footsteps.

He’ll take one big step in matching his father’s path this fall when he enrolls at the University of New Mexico, the same team his father his father once made NCAA All-American.

Tim’s sister Alissa – Carson’s aunt – is one of the most accomplished women’s golfers Minnesota’s ever seen. She won the Minnesota Girls Junior title and qualified for the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship. She also won the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur in 1999, three straight Minnesota State Amateur titles and was the Minnesota Player of the Year in 1998 and 1999.

They all leave quite a legacy. But it’s one Carson has the talent, drive and work-ethic to keep rolling for another generation.