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SAN ANTONIO — UTSA head women’s golf coach Carrie Parnaby announced Monday that she has signed Allison Howarth (San Antonio/MacArthur HS), Allie Johnston (Castle Rock, Colo./Rock Canyon HS) and Brogan Townend (Blackburn, England/Clitheroe Royal Grammar School) to National Letters of Intent. The trio will join the Roadrunners for the 2012-13 season.
“We are very excited to welcome each of these young ladies into the Roadrunners family and even more excited about their passion and enthusiasm to join our team next August,” Parnaby said. “Allie, Brogan and Allison are three players who will complement our previous recruiting classes. I anticipate each of them being big contributors to our program in the fall and believe they will represent UTSA in a first class manner both on and off the course. They all know how to win and each will add to, and improve, our program in their own way.”
Howarth was a first-team all-state pick as a junior at MacArthur High School last season. The San Antonio product won a pair of tournaments including the Girls Tournament of Champions, where she took the crown with a 143 (73-70). At the Regional Preview, Howarth carded a 147 (71-76) to earn individual medalist honors. In addition, she earned a third-place finish at the NEISD Swing for the Cure, where she made a charge up the leaderboard on the final day with a 67.
“We are really looking forward to having our first San Antonio native and left-handed player on the team,” Parnaby said. “Allison has not even scratched the surface of her talent yet. She is an extremely long hitter and has a great work ethic. Her demeanor on the golf course is very polished and she has very solid fundamentals. Allison is so easy going and likable, and has a great personality and spirit about her that will be a great addition to our team.”
Johnston was named the 2011 Colorado State Player of the Year after winning several junior tournaments and earned all-state honors as a sophomore and junior at Rock Canyon High School in Castle Rock, Colo. Rated as the No. 29 recruit in the 2012 class by Golfweek, she took home titles at the AJGA Lubbock Junior Tournament after carding a 214 (74-71-68) and the Colorado Junior Stroke Play Championship, where she fired two rounds of 69 en route to a 208 (70-69-69). Additionally, Johnston was a three-time Colorado Team Junior Americas Cup Member (2008, 2010 and 2011) and a two-time Women’s Amateur Public Links Participant (2010 and 2011) and USGA Girls Junior Participant (2009 and 2011).
“Allie is a great junior player and even better person,” Parnaby said. “She has competed at the highest levels of junior and amateur golf and has put together an impressive résumé. Allie has already established a huge amount of pride in being a Roadrunner. She was a highly recruited junior and fell in love with our facilities, staff and the incredible weather San Antonio has to offer. Allie comes from a wonderful family, is a very hard worker and cannot wait to continue to improve at UTSA.”
As a member of the English National Team, Townend brings a wealth of international playing experience to UTSA. From Blackburn, England, she was a member of the 2011 Girls International Matches Championship team and, as an individual, won the Leveret Trophy Championship with a 136 (68-68). Townend won the latter event, held at Formby Golf Club, by five strokes. This year she placed fifth at the Ladies British Open Amateur with a 301 (74-78-76-73) and earned an 18th-place finish at the British Girls Junior, advancing to the match play round of 32. In addition, Townend was a member of Lancashire’s winning team at the English County Finals and she notched a pair of wins on the Faldo Series, including the circuit’s Grand Finale.
“Brogan is an outstanding young lady,” Parnaby said. “We are very fortunate she made the commitment to join our team and look forward to welcoming her to UTSA next fall. She will be our first English player and currently is one of the country’s top players. Brogan comes from a great family and is excited to join our program to improve and be successful. She too has an incredible résumé that includes a lot of international experience and will have an immediate impact for us. Our coaching staff is thrilled to help develop into her full potential.”