Oct. 25, 2025 (Paradise Island, Bahamas) – Rebekah Gardner knows something about playing in the wind. She is a member at Royal County Down in Northern Ireland where the winds are almost always present.
Gardner used her home course knowledge Saturday to battle the 26-mile-an-hour winds to shoot an even-par 72 in the second round and help lift her University of Miami team into first place after 36 holes at the White Sands Bahamas NCAA Women’s Golf Invitational. It was the best round of the day by two strokes.
Miami jumped three spots into first place, with a total of 24 over par, two strokes ahead of South Florida, and nine in front of High Point, which had held a slim lead after the first day.
“I’m used to playing in this weather back home,” said Gardner, a junior who is one stroke off the individual lead at 3 over 147. “I don’t mind playing in the wind. It’s all about staying patient and knowing that it is the same for everybody.”
“It was a very hard day out there,” said Miami head coach Janice Olivencia, now in her fourth year. “The message today was to stay resilient. We still have to put another round together, and we need to have our best players play their best to hoist the trophy.”
Gardner was supported in her team’s five-count-four scoring by Cloe Amion Villarino and Ashleen Kaur, who carded 2 over 74s, and Stella Jelinek, who had a 5 over 77. For the second consecutive day, the average score was an 8-over-par 80, and only Cherry Marley of South Florida and Kaur were able to record as many as four birdies. Gardner had three. Eva Lye of High Point had the only eagle of the tourney, with a 3 on the par-5 13th.
Isabella Johnson of Middle Tennessee State holds the individual lead at 2-over-par 146 after rounds of 72-74. Her team is fourth at 34 over par, followed by Northern Illinois, Ohio and Prairie View A&M.
The women will continue with the final round of the 54-hole event on Sunday at the 6,342-yard, par 72 Ocean Club Golf Course, designed by past major champion Tom Weiskopf.
TEAM SCORING
1.Miami, +24
2. South Florida, +26
3. High Point, +33
4. Middle Tennessee State, +34
5. Northern Illinois, +46
6. Ohio
7. Prairie View
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
1. Isabella Johnson, Middle Tennessee State, +2
2. Rebekah Gardner, Miami, +3
T3. Cherry Marley, South Florida, +5
T3. Cloe Amion Villarino, Miami, +5
5. Ashleen Kaur, Miami, +6
T6. Makayla Grubb, High Point, +7
T6. Valentina Bosselmann, South Florida, +7
T8. Eva Lye, High Point, +8
T8. Regina Plascencia, South Florida, +8
For more coverage of the 2025 White Sands Bahamas NCAA Invitational, follow @WhiteSandsBah on social media and use the following hashtags: #WhiteSandsBahamas and #WhiteSandsNCAA.
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ABOUT THE BAHAMAS
With over 700 islands and cays and 16 unique island destinations, The Bahamas lies just 50 miles off the coast of Florida, offering an easy fly-away escape that transports travelers away from their everyday. The Islands of The Bahamas have world-class fishing, diving, boating and thousands of miles of the earth’s most spectacular water and beaches waiting for families, couples and adventurers. Explore all the islands have to offer at www.bahamas.com or on Facebook, YouTube, or Instagram to see why “It’s Better in The Bahamas.”
ABOUT OCEAN CLUB GOLF COURSE
Atlantis Paradise Island’s Ocean Club Golf Course offers a challenging and beautiful course for golfers desiring championship play. Masterfully conceived, the Tom Weiskopf-designed 18-hole, par 72 championship course stretches over 7,100 yards on Atlantis’ peninsula. The course has hosted iconic sporting events such as the Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational (MJCI), the Michael Douglas & Friends Celebrity Golf Tournament and the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic. For more information about Atlantis Paradise Island Resort and the Ocean Club please visit www.atlantisbahamas.com.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
For White Sands Bahamas NCAA Invitational
Contact: Jack Milko
[email protected]
Contact: Craig Smith
[email protected]
BAHAMAS MINISTRY OF TOURISM, INVESTMENTS & AVIATION CONTACT:
Rissie Demeritte
[email protected]
ATLANTIS CONTACT:
Katie Longley
Atlantis Paradise Island
242-376-1034
[email protected]
Photo Credits 📸: Ronnie Archer
