Where Are They Now: Tina Miller Lloyd
If you are a former Hurricane golfer and are interested in participating in our series, please contact UM athletic communications assistant Rickey Vela at r.vela@umiami.edu with the subject line "Where Are They Now." Be sure to check out our previous features as well.
Name: Tina Miller Lloyd
Years attended UM: 2001-2005
Degree earned (if any): B.A.
in studio art graphic design with a minor in marketing
Awards: Member of University
of Miami's Iron Arrow Honor Society (2004), 2003 CRSS (Center for Research on
Sport in Society) Scholar Athlete Award, 2005 Women in Sport and Society Babe
Zaharias Female Athlete of the Year, 2004 Sports Illustrated Faces in the Crowd,
seven collegiate victories including 2003 Big East Championships, UM record holder
for most Top 10 finishes (26)
Where do you live now and what
are you up to these days?
I have settled in Tampa, Fla., where I'm currently happily married
to Rhys Lloyd (former NFL placekicker). We have two beautiful children:
AstonJames (2) and John William (8 months). When not changing diapers or
dancing to kids songs, I am a testimonial and success coach as
well as leading all of their social media marketing campaigns.
Soon after your career at UM,
where did life take you?
Upon my graduation, I knew I wanted to play golf professionally. I gave
it my all and played in a few LPGA events onsponsor invitations before entering
LPGA Q-school. I played three years on the LPGA Futures Tour and bounced around
from LPGA events to Futures Tours. After two failed attempts at LPGA Q-school,
I decided I would give golf one last shot. I became a contestant on the Golf
Channel's "Big Break Ka'anapal" season and then thought, maybe I still had my
competitive drive within me. Shortly after trying to get back out on the mini
tours, I realized that I wanted a settled life with my then fiancé Rhys and we
married in 2009 at Don Shula's Golf Course in Miami Lakes, which is where I won
my final college event.
Are you still playing golf?
I do, but for fun. I still represent the LPGA in a few Pro-Am
events every year, entertaining their corporate sponsors, but I have
thought about attempting to tee it up in a U.S. Open qualifier maybe next year.
What is your fondest memory
about playing for the Hurricanes?
There are just too many to choose! I would say - as a player - my fondest
memory was up in South Bend Ind., for the Inaugural Big East Championships. I
was down and just found this inner drive within me and once we made the turn after nine holes, I knew I could not be beat.
It was a time I often tried to refer back to when I felt like my back was up
against the wall. My fondest memory as a student was byfar being tapped into
Iron Arrow - the highest honor attained at the University of Miami. It was a bit
of a blur that day, but it was still an amazing honor and one I hold close to my
heart.
Do you still keep in touch with
your former teammates? If so, who are you closest with?
Yes, I keep in touch with pretty much all of them. From Camila in Norway
to Jazmin in Paraguay - I try to keep them updated with baby photos on Facebook. Camila
even made the journey all the way from Norway for my wedding back in 2009. I also remain in contact with
Lela Cannon, my former UM coach.
Have you raised any children,
and if so, how old are they now and what do they do?
Aston James is 2, almost 3 he will tell you, and he loves to try and hit
golf balls and play tennis. John William just mastered the skill of pulling
himself up to standing and crawling, so he has a little bit of time before he and his brother will be teeing it up on the
course together.
It is so hard when you are actually in the moment of being a student-athlete at Miami to take a step back and appreciate it all. I can remember running from workouts, to class, and then back to the golf course and going to the dining hall in my golf clothes before an evening class. I was constantly on the go and had no moment to just sit back and relax. Every now and again, as a student, I can remember walking to class (especially my senior year) thinking, I will not being this bubble much longer. I felt so safe and secure at Miami...and I knew the world of professional golf was going to be hard. I would definitely say put in your time on the course, if you want to play professionally, but also do not allow your academics to slip because after tour life, a University of Miami degree is held in high regard. Also try your hardest to not only excel in the classroom and on the course, but also apply yourself to do lots of community service and get involved with University of Miami activities to see UM flourish for years to come!
