11/11/2026 10:06:00 AM | Women's Golf
Graduate transfer Varnika Achanta, touted prep prospect Payson Pistono will join the program
LARAMIE – Wyoming women's golf coach Josey Stender and assistant Blake Isakson announced the signing of two players on the first day of the 2026 regular signing period Wednesday.
Varnika Achanta of San Jose, Calif., will join the Cowgirls for the spring season and Payson Pistono of The Woodlands, Texas, will arrive for the 2027-28 season.
UW won the National Golf Invitational last season and continued the momentum with some record-breaking performances during the fall schedule.
"We are very excited to sign Payson and Varnika, two very experienced, talented athletes and high-achieving students," Stender said. "The current group has raised the competitive standard which has allowed us to recruit at a higher level. Both young ladies also aspire to be a part of a positive, competitive culture and will make a great fit."
Achanta is a graduate transfer who competed in 12 tournaments for Hawai'i. She posted a low round of 68 at the Pan Pacific Super League in Japan last fall and had three top 20 finishes with low 54-hole score of 3-over 219 to tie for 32nd at the Rainbow Wahine Invitational as a redshirt freshmen during the 2024-25 season.
After starting her career at Cincinnati, Achanta transferred to Hawai'i where she was named to the Big West Commissioner's Honor Roll and was an Academic All-Big West honoree. She led Valley Christian High School to two consecutive California State Championship third place finishes while winning the league individual championship as a senior
Achanta, who graduated Magna Cum Laude from Hawai'i and will be eligible to play this spring and all of next season, was also recruited by Georgetown, Indiana, New York University, Purdue, Rutgers, San Jose state, UC Davis and UNLV.
"Varnika will arrive this spring, adding to our depth and make an immediate competitive impact," Stender said. "She has experience and solid results on a lot of the golf courses we compete on. As a high achieving student, she could have moved on with her career, but she wanted to continue to play competitive team golf while pursuing her graduate degree."
Pistono is the reigning Texas State 6A 18-hole record holder (-12) and 36-hole record holder (-18) after shooting rounds of 60 and 66 in winning the Heart of Texas Tournament in Sept. 2026 at Squaw Valley Country Club. She led The Woodlands High School to a regional championship in 2025 with a third-place individual finish and to a district runner-up finish with a second-place individual finish.
At the Swing For the Cure High School Tournament in Nov. 2024, Pistono had a hole-in-one using a pitching wedge on a par-3, 120-yard hole. She won six different tournaments in high school and was the TJGT State Matchplay champion in 2026.
Pistano is currently No. 120 in the Junior Golf Scoreboard rankings.
"Payson is one of the highest ranked junior golfers in the state of Texas that we were very fortunate to sign," Stender said. "She brings a wealth of national playing experience and a growth mindset. She plays very smart, confident and with tenacity. Payson is comfortable being under par and facing adversity because of the exposure to consistent high-level golf."
The Cowgirls will open the spring season at the annual Mountain Classic Matchplay event the program co-hosts Feb. 8-10 in Palm Desert, Calif.
Varnika Achanta of San Jose, Calif., will join the Cowgirls for the spring season and Payson Pistono of The Woodlands, Texas, will arrive for the 2027-28 season.
UW won the National Golf Invitational last season and continued the momentum with some record-breaking performances during the fall schedule.
"We are very excited to sign Payson and Varnika, two very experienced, talented athletes and high-achieving students," Stender said. "The current group has raised the competitive standard which has allowed us to recruit at a higher level. Both young ladies also aspire to be a part of a positive, competitive culture and will make a great fit."
Achanta is a graduate transfer who competed in 12 tournaments for Hawai'i. She posted a low round of 68 at the Pan Pacific Super League in Japan last fall and had three top 20 finishes with low 54-hole score of 3-over 219 to tie for 32nd at the Rainbow Wahine Invitational as a redshirt freshmen during the 2024-25 season.
After starting her career at Cincinnati, Achanta transferred to Hawai'i where she was named to the Big West Commissioner's Honor Roll and was an Academic All-Big West honoree. She led Valley Christian High School to two consecutive California State Championship third place finishes while winning the league individual championship as a senior
Achanta, who graduated Magna Cum Laude from Hawai'i and will be eligible to play this spring and all of next season, was also recruited by Georgetown, Indiana, New York University, Purdue, Rutgers, San Jose state, UC Davis and UNLV.
"Varnika will arrive this spring, adding to our depth and make an immediate competitive impact," Stender said. "She has experience and solid results on a lot of the golf courses we compete on. As a high achieving student, she could have moved on with her career, but she wanted to continue to play competitive team golf while pursuing her graduate degree."
Pistono is the reigning Texas State 6A 18-hole record holder (-12) and 36-hole record holder (-18) after shooting rounds of 60 and 66 in winning the Heart of Texas Tournament in Sept. 2026 at Squaw Valley Country Club. She led The Woodlands High School to a regional championship in 2025 with a third-place individual finish and to a district runner-up finish with a second-place individual finish.
At the Swing For the Cure High School Tournament in Nov. 2024, Pistono had a hole-in-one using a pitching wedge on a par-3, 120-yard hole. She won six different tournaments in high school and was the TJGT State Matchplay champion in 2026.
Pistano is currently No. 120 in the Junior Golf Scoreboard rankings.
"Payson is one of the highest ranked junior golfers in the state of Texas that we were very fortunate to sign," Stender said. "She brings a wealth of national playing experience and a growth mindset. She plays very smart, confident and with tenacity. Payson is comfortable being under par and facing adversity because of the exposure to consistent high-level golf."
The Cowgirls will open the spring season at the annual Mountain Classic Matchplay event the program co-hosts Feb. 8-10 in Palm Desert, Calif.
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