Kai Trump has officially begun her college golf career at the University of Miami, sharing new Hurricanes team photos that mark her arrival on campus.
The 19-year-old freshman posted the images on Monday, including a photo of herself posing with an American flag draped across her shoulders.
“Year 1 #gocanes,” Trump wrote alongside the photos.
The post quickly attracted thousands of likes as Trump introduced herself as a Miami golfer, nearly two years after announcing her commitment to the program.
Kai Trump adjusts to life at Miami
The team photos follow an emotional transition into college life. Trump recently acknowledged that leaving home had been more difficult than she expected, despite her excitement about starting the next stage of her career.
“I’ve been, like, literally sobbing,” she said in a recent vlog. “I think knowing I have to say goodbye to everyone tonight, it, like, really, really sucks.”
She added: “I’m excited. It’s just, like, I’m emotional.”
Trump joins the Hurricanes with a strong competitive background. She played at The Benjamin School in Florida, helping her high school team win four consecutive district championships.
Her junior career also includes a runner-up finish at the 2025 Major Championship at Village Golf Course and second place at the 2024 Martin County Junior Open.
Before entering college, Trump faced one of her biggest tests when she received a sponsor exemption into The ANNIKA on the LPGA Tour. She opened with an 83, then improved by eight strokes with a second-round 75 before missing the cut.
“I was definitely more nervous than I expected, but I thought I hit a lot of great shots out there,” she said afterward. “I hit a lot of good shots just to the wrong spots.”
The experience also gave Trump confidence after she saw how her game compared with some of the world’s top players.
“It was pretty cool because I know I hit it far, but kind of playing with the best players in the world and being literally right there or even outdriving on some of the holes, it felt pretty good,” Trump said.
New chapter extends beyond golf
The official University of Miami golf photos come after a hectic move into Trump’s first college apartment. Her mother, Vanessa Trump, helped with the transition, including a marathon Target trip that filled four shopping carts with kitchen equipment, cleaning supplies and other essentials.
The move carried additional emotional weight after Vanessa revealed earlier this year that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer.
Kai recently provided an encouraging update, saying her mother was doing “a lot better” after treatment and surgery while describing the previous few months as “a little bit of a rocky road.”
With the goodbyes behind her, classes underway and golf practice beginning, Kai Trump’s first official Miami photos represent more than a social media moment. They signal the start of a new chapter in her college golf career.