The numbers from the Golfweek Put Me In Coach Invitational in Indiana are not pretty. Kai Trump finished 13th out of 14 players. Nevertheless, the Miami freshman concluded the week with her best round of the tournament. There is a clear upward trend in the scoring even if the leaderboard looks bad.
The struggle with high scores
The scorecard tells a story of a difficult transition to the college level. According to GolfMagic, Trump posted a 5-over 77 during Tuesday’s final round. This brought her total for the 54-hole event to 27-over par. The start of the week was even rougher. She opened with an 86 on and followed that with an 80 in the first Monday. These high numbers highlight the massive jump in competition. It is a tough adjustment for any 19-year-old playing against seasoned college talent.
The gap between her and the leaders is wide. Her teammate, Rebekah Gardner, won the event by six shots at 3-under par. While the gap is large, the momentum is moving in the right direction. Trump managed to card three birdies during that final 77. That is the kind of spark needed to survive this level of play.
Signs of a developing game
The focus should stay on the improvement rather than the 13th-place finish. This was her second college tournament. Her first appearance at the Golfweek Fall Classic saw her finish tied for 102nd in a field of 120 players. In both events, she showed the ability to lower her scores as the week progressed. This pattern suggests the talent is there, but the consistency is missing.
Her game relies on length off the tee and strong ball striking. However, she has noted that her short game needs work. Physical hurdles are also part of the equation. Trump dealt with a wrist injury following surgery earlier this year to fix damage around her ECU tendon and fibrocartilage complex. She previously mentioned that a shot hitting hard ground near a cart path caused an aggravation of the injury. The fact that she returned to competition this week shows she is getting closer to full strength.
The transition to professional-level fields remains another hurdle. At her LPGA debut at The ANNIKA, she shot an 83 and a 75.
