Ready For Regionals
Excitement. Nerves. Pride.
All emotions the University of Miami golf team is feeling as they prepare to compete in NCAA Regionals for the second straight season.
A very young team made up of two juniors, three sophomores and two freshmen, the Hurricanes faced ups and downs throughout the regular season, beginning with the challenge of replacing the production of current LET golfer and 2024 graduate, Sara Byrne.
Byrne, a 2024 WGCA All-American and All-ACC Team member, led the Hurricanes to their first NCAA regional appearance under head coach Janice Olivencia last season.
With the departure of Byrne, the Hurricanes knew they had big shoes to fill, but the entire team stepped up to contribute throughout the season. Six different golfers led the Hurricanes in scoring across 10 tournaments this season and the Hurricanes totaled two team victories and five top-five finishes in 2024-25.
“It’s really nice knowing that, even though our best senior graduated, we still were able to make it to NCAA Regionals even with two freshmen who are new to college golf,” junior Olivia Grønborg said.
Grønborg was a key part of the Hurricanes’ performance this season, pacing Miami with four top-10 individual finishes and winning the individual title at the Hurricane Invitational in October.
The Denmark native, alongside sophomores Barbora Bujáková and Rebekah Gardner, are no strangers to big-time competition as they all competed at the 2024 NCAA Regionals in Auburn, Ala., helping Miami to an eighth-place showing last year.
“Even though we played in regionals last year, this is a new place and a new course so it’s very exciting for us,” Bujáková said.
It’s also exciting for the Miami freshmen – Cloe Amion Villarino and Sofie Hlinomazová – who will play in their first NCAA Regional on Monday.
“I think we are both really excited since it’s our first regional and we get to play on the biggest stage with all of these great teams,” Hlinomazová said. “It’s very special and an honor to even play. We work really hard all season so we just want to enjoy it.”
Amion Villarino and Hlinomazová are the only Hurricanes to play in all 10 tournaments so far this season, an impressive feat considering they are both freshman. Both have recorded top-10 finishes this year, with Hlinomazová placing third at the Hurricane Invitational and Amion Villarino finishing tied for sixth.
While they have never competed at NCAA Regionals, the freshmen know the importance of the event.
“It’s the best competition of the year, apart from NCAA Nationals, so it will definitely be the most exciting one of the year,” Amion Villarino said. “We’ve worked hard and prepared and now we just have to go out there and play and enjoy it.”
The first round of action begins Monday at Keene Trace Golf Club. The Hurricanes are set to tee off from hole one beginning at 8:55 a.m.
