University of Houston Athletics
Women’s Golf Welcomes Two in Signing Class
11/8/2023 6:03:00 PM | Women's Golf
Chiara Brambilla, Annika Ishiyama to compete as freshmen beginning in 2024-25
HOUSTON – Chiara Brambilla and Annika Ishiyama have signed National Letters of Intent and will compete with the University of Houston Women's Golf program during the 2024-25 season, Carolyn Macow Leatherwood Head Coach Lydia Gumm announced Wednesday.
Each will compete as freshman beginning next season and will have four years of eligibility remaining.
"We are super excited about this class," Gumm said. "The future of our program remains bright with the addition of student-athletes like Chiara and Annika."
ABOUT CHIARA BRAMBILLA
In each her first three seasons at Carroll High School for coaches Matt Glenn and Paige Martin, Brambilla earned All-District and All-Region honors while leading the Dragons to District championships.
This summer, she won the AJGA NW Arkansas Junior Open Championship title with a score of 3-under 213 at Highlands Golf Course and tied for eighth at the Bubba Conlee Junior Invitational.
"Chiara will be a great addition to our program. She is strong and tall and long off the team. Off the course, she is a phenomenal person," Gumm said. "(Assistant) Coach (Daniel) Park and I look forward to tapping into the potential she has and helping her get better every day."
A native of Southlake, Texas, Brambilla – who also is an Italian citizen and speaks English, Italian and Spanis\– advanced to the quarterfinals of the WSGA Southern Amateur Championship at Golf Club of Houston, her future home with the Cougars.
As a junior in 2022-23, she earned medalist honors at the Region I-6A Championship with a score of 138, thanks to a Final-Round and course-record 65, at Tangle Ridge Golf Club.
Brambilla tied for 12th at the UIL Class 6A State Championships with a score of 148 at Legacy Hills Golf Club in Georgetown, Texas, as a sophomore in 2021-22 and helped lead her team to a third-place finish.
As a freshman, she tied for seventh at the District 4-6A Championships.
ABOUT ANNIKA ISHIYAMA
During the 2022-23 season, Ishiyama finished second at the Kathy Whitworth Invitational with a score of 142 at Mira Vista Country Club and captured the championship at the Toyota Tour Cup with an even-par 144 at Saticoy Country Club.
"Annika is an extremely solid, all-around player. Her biggest strength is the control she has over her golf swing. Her swing is never off by much and that says a lot about her at her age. Annika has played all over the country and been successful. She will have a big impact in our program as well."
As a sophomore in 2021-22, she tied for fourth with a score of 1-under 213 at the Under Armour/Albane Valenzuela Invitational at Longbow Golf Club and tied for third at the AJGA Junior Championship with a score of 216 at Canebrake Golf Club.
Ishiyama finished second at Toyota Tour Cup at River Ridge Golf Course with a score of 1-under 143 and finished fifth at the Southern California Junior Amateur Championship at Morongo Golf Club.
For her impressive play that season, she was named an AJGA All-America Honorable Mention.
UP NEXT
The Cougars return to action to open their spring season at the Nexus Collegiate at Albany Golf Club in Nassau, Bahamas, on Feb. 12-13, 2024.
From there, Houston returns home to play host to its own ICON Invitational on Feb. 26-27 at Golf Club of Houston in Humble, Texas.
SUPPORT HOUSTON RISE
Join Houston Rise, a $150 million fundraising campaign for Houston Athletics dedicated to championship success in the Big 12 Conference.
Every Houston Rise contribution prepares our Cougars to compete and win when we start Big 12 competition in July 2023. Click here to rise and be counted.
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.
Each will compete as freshman beginning next season and will have four years of eligibility remaining.
"We are super excited about this class," Gumm said. "The future of our program remains bright with the addition of student-athletes like Chiara and Annika."
ABOUT CHIARA BRAMBILLAIn each her first three seasons at Carroll High School for coaches Matt Glenn and Paige Martin, Brambilla earned All-District and All-Region honors while leading the Dragons to District championships.
This summer, she won the AJGA NW Arkansas Junior Open Championship title with a score of 3-under 213 at Highlands Golf Course and tied for eighth at the Bubba Conlee Junior Invitational.
"Chiara will be a great addition to our program. She is strong and tall and long off the team. Off the course, she is a phenomenal person," Gumm said. "(Assistant) Coach (Daniel) Park and I look forward to tapping into the potential she has and helping her get better every day."
A native of Southlake, Texas, Brambilla – who also is an Italian citizen and speaks English, Italian and Spanis\– advanced to the quarterfinals of the WSGA Southern Amateur Championship at Golf Club of Houston, her future home with the Cougars.
As a junior in 2022-23, she earned medalist honors at the Region I-6A Championship with a score of 138, thanks to a Final-Round and course-record 65, at Tangle Ridge Golf Club.
Brambilla tied for 12th at the UIL Class 6A State Championships with a score of 148 at Legacy Hills Golf Club in Georgetown, Texas, as a sophomore in 2021-22 and helped lead her team to a third-place finish.
As a freshman, she tied for seventh at the District 4-6A Championships.
ABOUT ANNIKA ISHIYAMADuring the 2022-23 season, Ishiyama finished second at the Kathy Whitworth Invitational with a score of 142 at Mira Vista Country Club and captured the championship at the Toyota Tour Cup with an even-par 144 at Saticoy Country Club.
"Annika is an extremely solid, all-around player. Her biggest strength is the control she has over her golf swing. Her swing is never off by much and that says a lot about her at her age. Annika has played all over the country and been successful. She will have a big impact in our program as well."
As a sophomore in 2021-22, she tied for fourth with a score of 1-under 213 at the Under Armour/Albane Valenzuela Invitational at Longbow Golf Club and tied for third at the AJGA Junior Championship with a score of 216 at Canebrake Golf Club.
Ishiyama finished second at Toyota Tour Cup at River Ridge Golf Course with a score of 1-under 143 and finished fifth at the Southern California Junior Amateur Championship at Morongo Golf Club.
For her impressive play that season, she was named an AJGA All-America Honorable Mention.
UP NEXT
The Cougars return to action to open their spring season at the Nexus Collegiate at Albany Golf Club in Nassau, Bahamas, on Feb. 12-13, 2024.
From there, Houston returns home to play host to its own ICON Invitational on Feb. 26-27 at Golf Club of Houston in Humble, Texas.
SUPPORT HOUSTON RISE
Join Houston Rise, a $150 million fundraising campaign for Houston Athletics dedicated to championship success in the Big 12 Conference.
Every Houston Rise contribution prepares our Cougars to compete and win when we start Big 12 competition in July 2023. Click here to rise and be counted.
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 –
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