Double Canadian Champion T-Birds Golf adding four exciting recruits – University of British Columbia Athletics

VANCOUVER – Coming off a double perfect season in Cascade Conference play, and winning both the men’s and women’s Canada West and Golf Canada Canadian University/College Championships, UBC Thunderbirds Golf is pleased to announce four new recruits for the 2024-25 season.

The T-Birds will be adding two new men’s players and two new women’s players ahead of a hotly anticipated campaign that will likely be the last for many of the most decorated golfers in program history, as the majority of the roster is set to graduate at year’s end.

“Overall, it’s a small recruiting class, but one that may have a long-term impact on both the men’s and women’s side,” said UBC Golf head coach Chris MacDonald, a six-time NAIA Coach of the Year.

Joining the men’s team this season are Aneesh Kaura and Jake Houston.

Kaura is a transfer from Simon Fraser University where he played in NCAA DII for the Red Leafs in 2022-23. Joining UBC in his second year of eligibility, he plans to study electrical engineering after posting a GPA of nearly 3.9 in his first year at SFU.

On the course, the Calgary-born Kaura enjoyed an outstanding junior career, shooting 67 or better at three different tournaments, including a career-best 65 at the U17 Alberta Championship and posting the third lowest round at the 2020 Canadian Junior Nationals. More recently, he placed top 10 individually in his ever university tournament start for the Red Leafs while playing in the 2022 Western Washington University Invitational.

“My spirit and enthusiasm for golf are rooted in a deep passion for the game and a love for its challenges,” said Kaura. “I always love a challenge, and I view every round of golf as a different challenge in and of itself. My enthusiasm for golf comes from the joy of constant self-improvement and the thrill of competing.”

“Aneesh is simply a terrific player,” added MacDonald. “While at SFU he was known as an excellent teammate who played great golf and was in their top five playing a key role in his rookie season. Aneesh has played several Golf Canada National Championships and is building a journey of excellence in Canadian amateur golf.”

 

Jake Houston joins the T-Birds from Quebec after competing for John Abbott Cegep in the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association. Hailing from Point-Claire, Houston has been training at the Royal Montreal Golf Club since he was six years old. His game is driven by strong iron play, a natural ability to score, and a fiery competitiveness that he’s refined and harnessed through dedicated mental performance training.

On the national stage, Houston was runner up at the 2023 Canadian Junior Boys Championship after posting a tournament best 68 (-4) in his third round to charge up the field. The 19 year-old has also proved himself more than capable of playing against older and more experienced players, as he finished third at the CCAA Championship last fall despite competing against a field loaded with college athletes.

“I am obsessed with golf,” raved Houston. “It’s all I think about and all I want to do. I love this game, and I believe it is what I was meant to do. I started golfing when I was a toddler, and it has been a central part of my life ever since.”

 

“Jake comes in with a lot of playing experience in Ontario and Quebec,” noted MacDonald. “His home course, RMGC, is the oldest and most historic club in North America, also the site of the President’s Cup this year. I expect Jake will have a big role on the team this season and in years to come.”

 



 

“I know the character of both of these young men well and am excited for what they can bring and add to a veteran group that has a history of both regular season and playoff success in college golf.”

 

The women’s golf team is adding Sienna Harder and Keira Hou to its deep roster, both are coming to UBC directly out of high school.

Harder is a local product, joining the Thunderbirds after graduating from Walnut Grove Secondary in Langley. A former provincial champion swimmer, she picked up the game of golf later than most recruits, but immediately developed a passion for the sport and quickly became a competitive player with more room yet to grow.

The 18-year-old also excels academically, planning to study science in the fall with an eye on eventually attending medical school at UBC. On the course, Harder’s game in centered on accuracy, as she describes hitting fairways with her driver, pitching, and chipping as her greatest skills.

“I apply similar principles to all the sports I participate in,” noted Harder. “I am willing to put in the work, without ever complaining, because I know what it takes to reach my goals. For example, I never intended to pursue swimming, but when I got into it, my hard work yielded results. I know that given the time and the opportunity, I can be successful in golf as well.”

“Sienna is a late bloomer in golf, but her background in competitive swimming in an asset,” added MacDonald. “Her game is developing quickly at her home club Morgan Creek in Surrey. She is also coached by former T-Bird assistant Jon Motomotchie.”

 

Keira Hou turned down multiple NCAA Division I opportunities to join the Thunderbirds after graduating from Richmond Hill High School, just north of Toronto. Drawn in by UBC’s combination academic and athletic excellence, Hou plans to study finance at the Sauder School of Business.

This year, she has posted two top ten finished at American Junior Golf Association events, adding to several top three finished at Golf Canada NextGen tournaments. The 18-year-old says she scores by giving herself an edge off of the tee, describing her long game and driving accuracy as her greatest strengths.

“Golf gives me intrinsic rewards that I am not able to get elsewhere,” reflected Hou. “I feel rewarded and satisfied whenever I achieve great results, hit solid shots, or make putts. I’m always striving for better results and that’s what motivates me to work harder. In addition, golf helps me develop self-discipline and dedication.”

“Keira is very driven to have a positive impact on the team in 2024-2025,” added MacDonald. “She has been playing both provincial and national level events and has gotten experience playing out west this summer with the Canadian Junior Championship in Vancouver and the Canadian Women’s Amateur in Victoria.”

 

“I feel confident that both of these women will play a key role in the future success of varsity T-Birds golf!”

 

The Thunderbirds begin their season with a men’s and women’s Cascade Collegiate Conference tournament September 9-10 at Pine Ridge Golf Club in Springfield, Oregon. UBC is hosting the second CCC event of the year October 20-21 at Gold Mountain Club in Bremerton, Washington.