University of Houston Athletics
Photo by: Joe Buvid Photography 2021
Women’s Golf Welcomes Two on Signing Day
11/9/2022 10:53:00 PM | Women's Golf
Seven Lakes High product Maelynn Kim and English star Ellen Yates sign NLIS with the Cougars
HOUSTON – Seven Lakes High School product Maelynn Kim and English star Ellen Yates recently signed National Letters of Intent and will compete with the University of Houston Women's Golf program beginning in 2023-24.
Both will compete as freshman and have four years of eligibility remaining for Carolyn Macow Leatherwood Head Coach Lydia Gumm and Assistant Coach Daniel Park.
"We are excited to welcome Maelynn and Ellen to Houston and build on what we have. We are always looking to bring the best players and personalities who fit our culture," Gumm said. "Both work really hard and are coming here to win a championship, but they also have great personalities away from golf."
ABOUT MAELYNN KIM
Kim has enjoyed an award-winning career on the junior circuit, being named an AJGA All-America Honorable Mention earlier this month. She won medalist honors at the AJGA Jordan Spieth Junior Championship after posting an 8-under 64 in the Second Round and was the runner up at the 2022 AJGA Houston Junior Championship.
"We are so excited about Maelynn joining our program and what she is going to bring to the table. She is one of the top-ranked players in the state of Texas and has represented the city of Houston well," Carolyn Macow Leatherwood Head Coach Lydia Gumm said. "She will wear our logo with a lot of pride."
In 2021, Kim captured individual titles at the Texas Girls Amateur Championship, Texas Girls Matchplay Championship and the AJGA Tulsa Junior Championships while finishing second at the Texas Girls Invitational Championship.
In addition to her junior accolades, Kim has been a star for Seven Lakes High School in each of her first three seasons. She has been named the team Most Valuable Player and served as team captain for her sophomore and junior seasons and holds a No. 5 ranking in the AJGA Texas Class of 2023.
As a junior in 2021-22, she led the Spartans to the District championship and won the individual title by 18 strokes after firing back-to-back 69s.
Kim captured the District title and led the Spartans to a third-place finish at Regionals as a sophomore in 2020-21. She finished fifth at the State Championships with a score of 146 and led Seven Lakes High to a sixth-place finish.
For her impressive work that season, she was one of three finalists for VYPE Houston's Public School Golfer of the Year.
ABOUT ELLEN YATES
Yates has been an award-winning student-athlete for Woking High School and as a junior player. A member of the England Girls National Team since 2021, she currently stands at No. 76 in the European rankings and is No. 11 in the England Girls Order of Merit.
"Ellen is one of the best players in England, and she has really taken off over the last several months," Carolyn Macow Leatherwood Coach Lydia Gumm said. "She is a great person who fits our culture well."
In 2002, Yates represented England at the European Girls Team Championship and finished second in stroke play. She was a member of the English team which captured Home Internationals Team title, and she finished fourth at Welsh Ladies Open Stroke Play Championship in Wales.
In 2021, Yates was the top points scorer of the Great Britain & Ireland Junior Vagliano Trophy Team. She earned a third-place showing at the R&A British Girls Under 16 Championship and was a quarterfinalist at R&A British Girls Championship
Yates also finished seventh at the English Girls Championship and posted a fourth-place showing at the English Girls Under 16 Championship.
In 2019, she finished second at England Under 14 National Championship.
In addition to golf, Yates was a member of the Cross Country and Track and Field teams at Woking HS and was captain of the Netball squad.
Off the course, she received the Outstanding Achievement and Contribution to Sport Award.
UP NEXT
The Cougars will take a break before opening the spring season at the Lamkin Invitational at The Farms Golf Club in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., on Feb. 13-14, 2023.
Houston then returns home to play host to the ICON Invitational at Golf Club of Houston on Feb. 27-28, 2023, in Humble, Texas.
JOIN the P.A.R. 4 CLUB
Fans are invited to join the P.A.R. 4 Club to support Houston Women's Golf. P.A.R. 4 Club members provide financial support directly to Houston Women's Golf for needs beyond the program's operating budget.
Fans who join the P.A.R. 4 Club can begin receiving benefits for as little as $100 annually. For more information about the P.A.R. 4 Club, levels of giving and benefits, fans can click here.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarWGolf on Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarWGolf or on the team's Instagram page at UHCougarWGolf.
Both will compete as freshman and have four years of eligibility remaining for Carolyn Macow Leatherwood Head Coach Lydia Gumm and Assistant Coach Daniel Park.
"We are excited to welcome Maelynn and Ellen to Houston and build on what we have. We are always looking to bring the best players and personalities who fit our culture," Gumm said. "Both work really hard and are coming here to win a championship, but they also have great personalities away from golf."
ABOUT MAELYNN KIMKim has enjoyed an award-winning career on the junior circuit, being named an AJGA All-America Honorable Mention earlier this month. She won medalist honors at the AJGA Jordan Spieth Junior Championship after posting an 8-under 64 in the Second Round and was the runner up at the 2022 AJGA Houston Junior Championship.
"We are so excited about Maelynn joining our program and what she is going to bring to the table. She is one of the top-ranked players in the state of Texas and has represented the city of Houston well," Carolyn Macow Leatherwood Head Coach Lydia Gumm said. "She will wear our logo with a lot of pride."
In 2021, Kim captured individual titles at the Texas Girls Amateur Championship, Texas Girls Matchplay Championship and the AJGA Tulsa Junior Championships while finishing second at the Texas Girls Invitational Championship.
In addition to her junior accolades, Kim has been a star for Seven Lakes High School in each of her first three seasons. She has been named the team Most Valuable Player and served as team captain for her sophomore and junior seasons and holds a No. 5 ranking in the AJGA Texas Class of 2023.
As a junior in 2021-22, she led the Spartans to the District championship and won the individual title by 18 strokes after firing back-to-back 69s.
Kim captured the District title and led the Spartans to a third-place finish at Regionals as a sophomore in 2020-21. She finished fifth at the State Championships with a score of 146 and led Seven Lakes High to a sixth-place finish.
For her impressive work that season, she was one of three finalists for VYPE Houston's Public School Golfer of the Year.
ABOUT ELLEN YATESYates has been an award-winning student-athlete for Woking High School and as a junior player. A member of the England Girls National Team since 2021, she currently stands at No. 76 in the European rankings and is No. 11 in the England Girls Order of Merit.
"Ellen is one of the best players in England, and she has really taken off over the last several months," Carolyn Macow Leatherwood Coach Lydia Gumm said. "She is a great person who fits our culture well."
In 2002, Yates represented England at the European Girls Team Championship and finished second in stroke play. She was a member of the English team which captured Home Internationals Team title, and she finished fourth at Welsh Ladies Open Stroke Play Championship in Wales.
In 2021, Yates was the top points scorer of the Great Britain & Ireland Junior Vagliano Trophy Team. She earned a third-place showing at the R&A British Girls Under 16 Championship and was a quarterfinalist at R&A British Girls Championship
Yates also finished seventh at the English Girls Championship and posted a fourth-place showing at the English Girls Under 16 Championship.
In 2019, she finished second at England Under 14 National Championship.
In addition to golf, Yates was a member of the Cross Country and Track and Field teams at Woking HS and was captain of the Netball squad.
Off the course, she received the Outstanding Achievement and Contribution to Sport Award.
UP NEXT
The Cougars will take a break before opening the spring season at the Lamkin Invitational at The Farms Golf Club in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., on Feb. 13-14, 2023.
Houston then returns home to play host to the ICON Invitational at Golf Club of Houston on Feb. 27-28, 2023, in Humble, Texas.
JOIN the P.A.R. 4 CLUB
Fans are invited to join the P.A.R. 4 Club to support Houston Women's Golf. P.A.R. 4 Club members provide financial support directly to Houston Women's Golf for needs beyond the program's operating budget.
Fans who join the P.A.R. 4 Club can begin receiving benefits for as little as $100 annually. For more information about the P.A.R. 4 Club, levels of giving and benefits, fans can click here.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarWGolf on Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarWGolf or on the team's Instagram page at UHCougarWGolf.
– UHCougars.com –
HIGHLIGHTS – NCAA Columbus Regional Final Round (May 7, 2025)
Friday, May 09
HIGHLIGHTS – NCAA Columbus Regional Second Round (May 6, 2025)
Wednesday, May 07
HIGHLIGHTS – NCAA Columbus Regional First Round (May 5, 2025)
Monday, May 05
HIGHLIGHTS – NCAA Columbus Regional Practice Round (May 4, 2025)
Sunday, May 04