Editor’s Note: Virginia finished 11th at the NCAA Championships, narrowly missing the match-play cut. Bryan Lee capped his UVA career, earning a PGA Tour Americas membership, while teammate Ben James secured a PGA Tour membership for 2026 and 2027 as the top-ranked player in PGA Tour U.
A homeschooled path led these brothers to UVA – and a national title shot
Brothers Michael, left, and Bryan Lee are key pieces to the national title-contending UVA men’s golf team. The Lees were homeschooled prior to their arrival at Grounds, where they’ve since thrived. (Virginia Athletics photos; illustration by Johnny Utterback, University Communications)
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For seven years, Michael Lee’s life revolved around a dining room table, the local library and a golf course.
He’d learn at the table, study at the library and practice at the course. It was an effective combination that led Lee, a homeschooled student from the sixth through 12th grades, to the University of Virginia on a golf scholarship.
While the unique routine could simulate some teenage norms, it didn’t prepare Lee to stand in a packed student section and cheer on the local football team for three-plus hours.
Lee attended UVA’s game against Florida State University on Sept. 26. But by the time the Cavaliers outlasted the Seminoles in double overtime, and fans spilled onto the field in celebration, Lee was already back in his dorm room.
“I was so tired,” he said. “I looked at my group, and I was like, ‘Man, there are so many people here right now.’”
Michael and Bryan Lee are “both super nice, kind-hearted people” says UVA men’s golf coach Bowen Sargent. (Virginia Athletics photos)
Michael Lee, a freshman, and his brother, Bryan Lee, a senior, make up an unconventional two-fifths of the Wahoo lineup competing in the NCAA Championship tournament this weekend at the Omni La Resort and Spa in Carlsbad, California.
Their path to contributing to the nation’s second-ranked team – and reigning NCAA runners-up – never went through the doors of a high school – or, in Michael’s case, even a middle school.
The Lees were both educated in their Fairfax County home.
“Looking back now, knowing how much it helped me,” Bryan said, “I would make that decision every single time.”
The end goal was to maximize golfing opportunities to secure a future in the sport. Bryan, a promising player in eighth grade when he began homeschooling, remembers running the numbers with his parents and estimating he’d miss 33 days for tournaments – where college coaches were recruiting – if he remained at his local public school.
Bryan Lee poses next to his teammate Ben James during the 2026 Final Exercises ceremonies. Lee, a two-time Academic All-American, received his economics degree. (Photo by Matt Riley, University Communications)
“And that didn’t sound like something I could do,” he said.
So they adapted. Bryan – and later Michael – stuck to a schedule. Most school days with their mother began at 8 a.m. and lasted until around noon. They’d then break for lunch and head to the 1757 Golf Club in Sterling for practice.
The lifestyle came with tradeoffs.
“I remember my uncle asking me about missing stuff like Homecoming and prom,” Bryan said. “But we realized those are temporary things. So, I was willing to sacrifice something like that to help me get to this point.”
An administrator within the Fairfax County school district periodically monitored academic progress.
“He gave us a sense of security that we were on the right path,” Bryan said.
Bryan finished high school with a 3.6 GPA and has twice earned Academic All-American honors at UVA. He graduated this month with an economics degree. Michael had a 3.7 GPA in high school, and while yet to declare a major, he’s likely to follow his brother and also study economics at the University.
Homeschooled products are rare at UVA. Bryan Lee was one of 21 homeschoolers admitted to the University in the fall of 2022, and Michael was one of 18 to enter last fall.
The brothers say the academic transition to Grounds was less of a challenge than the social adjustment. As Michael put it, the main characters in his pre-UVA world were “just me, Bryan and my parents.”
Now, in addition to thousands of new classmates, they were part of a team for the first time in a while.
Michael Lee grins after winning the individual title at the East Lake Cup in October in Atlanta. The freshman has been a solid contributor this season to the nation’s second-ranked team. (Virginia Athletics photo)
“That’s always the hardest part,” said veteran Cavalier men’s golf coach Bowen Sargent, who previously recruited a homeschooled Jimmy Stanger before he went on to an All-American career at UVA and a spot on the PGA Tour. “But they’re both super nice, kind-hearted people. They have a good nature. They blended in nicely.”
Bryan, a two-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference player, has been a significant piece to UVA’s consecutive ACC Tournament championship teams. And Michael’s addition this season only boosts the Wahoos’ chances to capture the first NCAA title in program history. The freshman has three top-10 finishes, including a win at the East Lake Cup in Atlanta in October.
“It’s very cool to be on the same team,” Michael said. “I’ve grown up playing golf with him my entire life. Being on the same team, there’s a certain added pride and passion to want to play well and perform.
“We’re a family. This is our only year together. I want to do super, super well.”
While rooting for Hoos of all kinds to do the same.
The next time Michael goes to a football game at Scott Stadium, he might stay until the final whistle. He’s built up some endurance now – and he’s thrilled to have a school to support.
His school.
“I’d go to professional hockey or basketball games at home,” Lee said. “But ‘Let’s go, Washington Wizards’ or ‘Let’s go, Washington Capitals’ isn’t the same as ‘Let’s go, UVA!’
“All of a sudden, there’s a different pride. I’m proud to be a student here.”
