Kai Trump’s first college tournament with Miami ended with more than a scorecard. The freshman completed the Golfweek Fall Challenge earlier this month, but later revealed that she injured her left wrist during the event. Trump had undergone surgery on the same wrist in January after suffering damage involving her ECU tendon and triangular fibrocartilage complex.
She still completed all three rounds at Caledonia Golf & Fish Club in South Carolina. Trump finished tied for 102nd in a 120-player field after rounds of 78, 76, and 81. The setback adds another chapter to a career that has included an LPGA debut.
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The wrist problem surfaced during Miami’s first tournament
Trump explained in a recent vlog that the injury happened after she struck the ground near the first cart path during the Golfweek Fall Challenge. She described the surface as unexpectedly hard and said the impact sent a shock through her arm.
The problem became more noticeable later in the tournament. Trump said she felt another jolt after hitting a driver on the 10th hole and initially felt as though she had torn the wrist again.
She later clarified that she had not suffered a complete tear. Trump described a small area of damage involving cartilage and ligaments, while Miami has not publicly detailed a medical diagnosis. The injury became a significant complication during her opening college event.
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Trump had already undergone wrist surgery in January
The latest setback involves the same left wrist that required surgery at the beginning of 2026. Reuters reported in January that Trump said the procedure addressed injuries to the stabilizing tissues of her ECU tendon and damage to her triangular fibrocartilage complex.
The surgery was performed by Dr. Thomas Graham at the Lehigh Valley Orthopedic Institute. Trump said afterward that she was looking forward to rehabilitation and returning to golf without pain.
Her first tournament came only months after that procedure. She competed as one of two Miami players in the field as an individual, while the Hurricanes’ five-player team lineup competed at a different event earlier in the season.
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Her debut scorecard showed the challenge of college golf
Trump opened the Golfweek Fall Challenge with a 7-over 78 at Caledonia Golf & Fish Club. She made the turn in 2-over 38 after starting on the 10th hole, but a double bogey on the par-5 second contributed to a 40 on her second nine.
Her second round was a two-shot improvement. Trump posted a 76 and moved to 12 over through 36 holes, with a double bogey on No. 16 and three additional bogeys after the turn.
The final round produced her highest score of the week, an 81. Trump finished at 22 over and tied for 102nd in the 120-player field, while teammate Carlee Rogers finished tied for 74th.
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Fun fact: Kai Trump began playing golf at just 2 years old and later won the 2022 Women’s Club Championship at Trump International Palm Beach. She is now a golfer at the University of Miami after competing in junior events across Florida.
Miami’s program has bigger expectations around its freshman class
Trump joined Miami for a program that entered the 2026-27 season ranked No. 21 in Golf Channel’s preseason women’s college golf rankings. The Hurricanes returned several experienced players while adding Trump, Rogers, and Bella Dovhey to the roster.
Miami’s profile lists Trump as a freshman from Stuart, Florida, with experience on the Srixon Medalist Tour, AJGA, and South Florida PGA circuits. The school also highlighted her runner-up finish at the 2025 Major Championship at Village Golf Course.
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The Hurricanes opened their season by winning the Boilermaker Classic, where Scarlett Schremmer claimed the individual title, before Trump made her own competitive debut the following week.
Head coach Janice Olivencia said during Miami’s 2025 signing announcement that Trump would bring energy and excitement to the program and emphasized her commitment to development.
Treatment gives Trump another hurdle after her debut
Trump has since disclosed that she is receiving treatment for the latest wrist issue. Media outlets reported that she said she had been given “stem cell” injections by pain specialist Dr. Jeffrey Wiegers as she attempts to avoid another surgery.
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Trump has not described the new injury as a complete tear, and public reports have not established that another operation is required. Her comments indicate that avoiding another surgical procedure is part of the current treatment approach.
Her next listed opportunity with Miami is the Ruth’s Chris Tar Heel Invitational, scheduled for Oct. 16-18 at UNC Finley Golf Course in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The tournament schedule places her next potential college appearance roughly five weeks after the Fall Challenge, although her participation depends on her recovery and Miami’s lineup decisions.
The setback changes the early story around Trump’s college career
Trump arrived at Miami with significant attention because of her social-media profile and previous golf appearances. Her 2025 LPGA debut at The Annika drew a large gallery before she joined Miami’s 2026 recruiting class.
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Her college debut has been defined by a difficult scorecard and a renewed wrist problem. The event was also one of her first competitive starts after surgery.
The injury now becomes part of the opening chapter of Trump’s Miami career rather than a separate offseason issue. With treatment underway and another fall event on the schedule, the immediate focus is on whether her wrist will allow her to resume competition without another interruption.
TL;DR
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Kai Trump injured her left wrist during the Golfweek Fall Challenge, her first college tournament for Miami.
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She completed the event with rounds of 78, 76, and 81, finishing tied for 102nd in a 120-player field.
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Trump previously had left wrist surgery in January to address damage involving her ECU tendon and triangular fibrocartilage complex.
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She has since reported receiving “stem cell” injections while trying to avoid another surgery.
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Miami’s next listed tournament is the Ruth’s Chris Tar Heel Invitational from Oct. 16-18.
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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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