Q. So it's been a little over a month since Stage II. You made the cut on the number. What was that like? Had to be nerve-wracking watching yourself go in and out all week.
VIRGINIA ELENA CARTA: Yeah, I actually had no idea I was just on the number; meaning, I hadn't looked at any leaderboard during the week so I didn't know I was actually just 15th heading into last round with a good chance.
I thought I was a little bit more behind and that I needed a good round the last day to make it through, so when I double bogey 13 or so, the par-5, making one chip over the green and then back and then forth, I was a little bit nervous, of course.
I thought I was just outside the cut, so it was -- I don't know, I think it was good to just keep myself composed and focused one shot at a time. I almost holed out three holes in a row so that was quite nice to see.
And then, I don't know, I was just lucky to make it on the number I guess.
Q. So what have you done in the month between Stage II and Q-Series? Did you go back home?
VIRGINIA ELENA CARTA: Yeah, I went back home. Well, I actually went to England to train a little bit and then I had to go to Spain to try the courses for the LET Q-School, and then I was home in Italy for a little while practicing and really getting ready for Q-Series.
Q. How did LET Q-School go?
VIRGINIA ELENA CARTA: It's just after this one.
Q. Oh, it is.
VIRGINIA ELENA CARTA: So, yeah, if I make it through next week then I will be flying in on December 15th and Q-School starts the 16th.
So that's why I had to go and try the courses. Hopefully it all goes as planned.
Q. Having played at Duke and been around the game for a while, you're used to stretches like that, but how do you keep your energy up with so much on the line back to back to back to back weeks?
VIRGINIA ELENA CARTA: Yeah, I think I got that more from probably the academic side, to just be very much under pressure all the time. Knowing that I have sort of like a Plan B and I have a passion that it's outside of golf really. I'm a consultant at the moment for multi-national company based in England, and I truly love my work.
I think it's nice to have two separate things to do in your life. I think that's keeping me stress-free for the most part. Obviously a little bit of stress, but...
Q. What's the name of that company?
VIRGINIA ELENA CARTA: Domino Printing.
Q. How did you get involved with them?
VIRGINIA ELENA CARTA: Just after college -- so once I finished Duke I went to Cambridge for environmental policy, so I finished that in October. While I was there I played for the men's team, so I kept on being a little bit involved with golf, just in a different way really than Duke women's golf was.
So I focused very much on my academics, and that's how then I got a little bit into this sort of path.
Q. Does having something like that, I feel like there are a lot girls here that golf is their only thing, does having something outside of golf, do you think that's an advantage?
VIRGINIA ELENA CARTA: For me it is; meaning I really enjoyed the balance of academics and golf at Duke, and I knew I was going to enjoy it before going to Duke.
I really enjoyed environmental policy and the environmental side and sustainability, so I think having that sort of balance keeps my mind fresh on the golf course, and obviously keeps my mind fresh when I'm working just because I've just played.
So it's sort of a nice, yeah, balance to have.
Q. So here in Alabama this week, two different courses. There is a lot of golf to be played; eight rounds hopefully over the course of two weeks. What have you thought of the golf courses here, Falls and Crossing so far?
VIRGINIA ELENA CARTA: They're tough. I think they're a good challenge. They're playing very long and the greens are hard, so you want to be on the right side of the green.
I think it's just a matter of, for me, hitting one shot at a time and picking the right section of the green and trying to hit it there. Even it might be easier from 20 feet away than from six feet, depending on where your ball lies and the hole is.
So I think just playing smart really.
Q. Did you play a lot of Robert Trent Jones courses when you were at Duke? I know it's more of a southeast thing.
VIRGINIA ELENA CARTA: Yeah, not really. Not really. Well, actually I know he designed some courses in Italy that I played, but I don't think I've played a lot of Robert Trent Jones in college, so it's nice to see Robert Trent Jones golf again.
But it's definitely a challenge, so hopefully I'll be ready.
Q. Awesome. Just again, looking ahead to the week, how did you keep yourself -- obviously you have two different things going on. Are you away from work? Have you taken time off for all the Q-School tournaments you're in?
VIRGINIA ELENA CARTA: I'm thinking about it. I'm planning and working a little bit in my time off, but I'm really focusing on now getting ready for Q-School and trying to do my best here.
Fastscripts by ASAP Sports...
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports