It is the 18th hole at the 2007 Wildcat Invitational at the University Club of Kentucky. Kanye West’s “Stronger” is stuck in the head of a certain 92-pound freshman from Pinole, Calif.
“I had no idea until tournaments that it was common in golfers to have a song stuck in our heads,” Christina Hirano said. “I usually don’t know the lyrics so I just say two words of it over and over again.”
Hirano would go on to finish tied for 11th with fellow University of Miami women’s golfer senior Jessica Steward at a course that reminded her of all that California embodies, especially its gorgeous weather.
Ten years ago Hirano first picked up a golf club alongside her younger sister Jennifer when her grandfather took the two of them to a golf course. She immediately fell in love with the sport.
As a child, she was a dancer and now credits the techniques she learned in the studio to helping her with both rhythm and balance on the course.
How did a girl from California end up 3,000 miles east at the University of Miami?
“I love the weather and humidity. I don’t care for dry heat. The golf courses are really nice,” she said.
Hirano only played one year of high school golf, instead focusing on traveling through the U.S. and Europe to play events.
Since she missed a lot of school while competing, she perfected the craft of time management and organization.
She is also a girl who does not like to party and instead likes to read Harry Potter (she cried at the end of the series) and Dr. Bob Rotella’s Golf is a Game of Confidence, a book that preaches being in the mind of the game and not allowing distractions.
“So far I am happy with what I have accomplished, but to be truthful to myself, I have not played up to my full potential yet so I can’t really be too proud or ecstatic with my scores,” Hirano said. “I hope that in the upcoming events I will be able to show how I really play with improvement.”
There are two more tournaments this fall, the next one in Greensboro, N.C., in which the freshman will have an opportunity to prove her full potential.
“The fact that Head Coach [Lela Cannon] is a psychology major has really helped,” she said. “When I’m on the course and I have a bad hole, she’s always telling us, ‘Don’t let the hole get you down, stay patient and let it happen and don’t let yourself get in the way.'”
Hirano’s sister Jennifer, a senior in high school, seems to be headed to Miami to play for the golf team as well. The current UM athlete’s only comment as to whether the two could be the next sister duo wreaking havoc on their competition: “Hopefully.”
If one happens to hear piano chords coming from the Mahoney/Pearson building, Hirano is teaching herself to play the piano by ear. She has even moved her desk out and placed a piano in its spot. Just don’t ask her to sing, she said, because mirrors and glasses are sure to break.
Hirano, who is majoring in public relations and psychology, would also like to travel to Italy, Australia and everywhere in between since traveling to Europe and cities in America for golf tournaments.
“My first goal is to see if I can turn professional, and if not, see if I can do something in the golf world.”
With the star starting to shine bright, it seems Christina Hirano might not have to fall back on her career as a musician after all.
Christina De Nicola may be contacted at c.denicola@umiami.edu.