University of Houston Athletics

Santiago De La Fuente Selected to Compete in Palmer Cup
4/25/2023 11:21:00 AM | Men's Golf
Junior tabbed for Team International as team committee selection
HOUSTON – University of Houston Men's Golf junior Santiago De La Fuente was selected as a member of Team International for the Palmer Cup.
The announcement of the United States and International Palmer Cup teams was made on Tuesday on GOLF Channel.
As a selection committee pick, De La Fuente was one of 12 men's golfers selected for Team International.
Competing in his first season at Houston as a transfer from Arkansas Tech, De La Fuente has been a steady leader for the Cougars throughout the 2022-23 season.
The Guadalajara, Mexico, native leads the team with a 70.34 scoring average, which currently ranks second in Houston single-season history.
In addition, De La Fuente has shot par or lower in 25 of his 32 rounds with a team-best 13 in the 60s.
De La Fuente has led the Cougars in nine of the 11 tournaments in which he has competed, including the individual championship at the Border Olympics at Laredo Country Club on Feb. 13-14.
In the Cougars' most recent action, De La Fuente drained birdies on four of his final six holes in the Final Round to break out of a tie with teammate Austyn Reily and capture the American Athletic Conference Championships individual crown.
He became the first Cougar to win The American Championships title since 2017.
De La Fuente joined the Cougars after playing for his first two collegiate seasons at Arkansas Tech. There, he led the Wonder Boys to the NCAA Division II national championships and earned 17 Top-20 finishes in 22 tournaments.
ARNOLD PALMER CUP
ARNOLD PALMER CUP
The 2023 Arnold Palmer Cup will be held June 8-10 at Lauren Valley Golf Club in Ligonier, Pa.
The event is a Ryder Cup-style tournament featuring the top men's and women's university/college golfers matching the United States against a team of International players. Beginning with the 2018 matches at Evian Resort Golf Club, the Palmer Cup is the only major tournament which features men and women playing side-by-side as partners.
United States team ranking qualifiers included Rachel Kuehn (Wake Forest), Crystal Wang (Illinois), Zoe Campos (UCLA), Megan Schofill (Auburn), Antonia Malate (San Jose State), and Ashleigh Park (Oregon) for the women and Gordon Sargent (Vanderbilt), Michael Thorbjornsen (Stanford), David Ford (North Carolina), Preston Summerhays (Arizona State), Ben James (Virginia), and Nick Gabrelcik (North Florida) for the men.
United States team Committee selections were Austin Greaser (North Carolina), Tommy Kuhl (Illinois), Ashley Menne (Arizona State), Emilia Migliaccio (Wake Forest), Maxwell Moldovan (Ohio State), Jennie Park (Texas A&M), Amanda Sambach (Virginia), and Caleb Surratt (Tennessee). Olivia Mitchell (Dallas Baptist) and Alex Price (Christopher Newport) were the non-Division I selections. Team USA Head Coach Michael Beard selected Derek Hitchner (Pepperdine) and Derek Radley selected Amari Avery (Southern California) as their coach's picks.
International team ranking qualifiers included Julia Lopez Ramirez (Mississippi State; Spain), Charlotte Heath (Florida State; England), Mirabel Ting (Augusta; Malaysia), Maddison Hinson-Tolchard (Oklahoma State; Australia), Karisa Chul-Ak-Sorn (Iowa State; Thailand), and Carla Bernat (Tulane; Spain) for the women and Christo Lamprecht (Georgia Tech; South Africa), Christiaan Maas (Texas; South Africa), Herman Sekne (Purdue; Norway), Tyran Snyders (Texas Tech; South Africa), Sampson Zheng (California; China), and Karl Vilips (Stanford; Australia) for the men.
International team Committee selections were Mateo Fernández de Oliveira (Arkansas; Argentina), Max Kennedy (Louisville; Ireland), Frederik Kjettrup (Florida State; Denmark), Andrea Lignell (Ole Miss; Sweden), Caley McGinty (Ohio State; England), Lauren Walsh (Wake Forest; Ireland), and Lottie Woad (Florida State; England). Ryan Griffin (Maynooth; Ireland) and Lorna McClymont (Stirling; Scotland) were the representatives from The R&A Student Tour Series. Head Coaches John Handrigan and Golda Borst selected Mats Ege (East Tennessee State; Norway) and Chiara Tamburlini (Ole Miss; Switzerland), respectively, as their coach's picks.
COUGAR SWEEPSTAKES REGISTRATION
Houston Athletics fans are invited to register in the Cougar Sweepstakes presented by Mizzen+Main.
One fan who registers at uhcougars.com/mgolfsweepstakes will receive a free round to play with Dismuke at beautiful Bluejack National in Montgomery, Texas, as well as a $1,000 gift card from Mizzen+Main.
Fans are invited to submit their information on the registration page. The contest will end at 11:59 p.m., May 3, with the winner to be announced May 8.
UP NEXT
De La Fuente and his Cougar teammates will compete in NCAA Regional play at one at iof sites across the nation on May 15-17. Those venues include Auburn University Club (Auburn, Ala.); Eagle Eye (Bath, Michigan); Bear's Best Las Vegas (Las Vegas); The Institute Golf Club (Morgan Hill, Calif.); Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club (Norman, Okla.) and The Cliffs at Keowee Falls (Salem, S.C.).
The Top Five teams and the low individual not on a qualifying team at each NCAA Regional will advance to the NCAA Championships set for May 26-31 at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz.
The Cougars will learn their NCAA postseason fate during the NCAA Selection Show. That show will air at Noon, Wednesday, May 3, on Golf Channel.
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 PROJECT 17
Fans are invited to join Project 17 to support Houston Men's Golf. Project members provide financial support directly to Houston Men's Golf for needs beyond the program's operating budget.
For information about Project 17 or to join, fans can click here.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarMGolf on Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarMGolf. Fans also can follow the team on Instagram at uhcougarmgolf.
The announcement of the United States and International Palmer Cup teams was made on Tuesday on GOLF Channel.
As a selection committee pick, De La Fuente was one of 12 men's golfers selected for Team International.
Competing in his first season at Houston as a transfer from Arkansas Tech, De La Fuente has been a steady leader for the Cougars throughout the 2022-23 season.The Guadalajara, Mexico, native leads the team with a 70.34 scoring average, which currently ranks second in Houston single-season history.
In addition, De La Fuente has shot par or lower in 25 of his 32 rounds with a team-best 13 in the 60s.
De La Fuente has led the Cougars in nine of the 11 tournaments in which he has competed, including the individual championship at the Border Olympics at Laredo Country Club on Feb. 13-14.
In the Cougars' most recent action, De La Fuente drained birdies on four of his final six holes in the Final Round to break out of a tie with teammate Austyn Reily and capture the American Athletic Conference Championships individual crown.
He became the first Cougar to win The American Championships title since 2017.
De La Fuente joined the Cougars after playing for his first two collegiate seasons at Arkansas Tech. There, he led the Wonder Boys to the NCAA Division II national championships and earned 17 Top-20 finishes in 22 tournaments.
ARNOLD PALMER CUP
ARNOLD PALMER CUP
The 2023 Arnold Palmer Cup will be held June 8-10 at Lauren Valley Golf Club in Ligonier, Pa.
The event is a Ryder Cup-style tournament featuring the top men's and women's university/college golfers matching the United States against a team of International players. Beginning with the 2018 matches at Evian Resort Golf Club, the Palmer Cup is the only major tournament which features men and women playing side-by-side as partners.
United States team ranking qualifiers included Rachel Kuehn (Wake Forest), Crystal Wang (Illinois), Zoe Campos (UCLA), Megan Schofill (Auburn), Antonia Malate (San Jose State), and Ashleigh Park (Oregon) for the women and Gordon Sargent (Vanderbilt), Michael Thorbjornsen (Stanford), David Ford (North Carolina), Preston Summerhays (Arizona State), Ben James (Virginia), and Nick Gabrelcik (North Florida) for the men.
United States team Committee selections were Austin Greaser (North Carolina), Tommy Kuhl (Illinois), Ashley Menne (Arizona State), Emilia Migliaccio (Wake Forest), Maxwell Moldovan (Ohio State), Jennie Park (Texas A&M), Amanda Sambach (Virginia), and Caleb Surratt (Tennessee). Olivia Mitchell (Dallas Baptist) and Alex Price (Christopher Newport) were the non-Division I selections. Team USA Head Coach Michael Beard selected Derek Hitchner (Pepperdine) and Derek Radley selected Amari Avery (Southern California) as their coach's picks.
International team ranking qualifiers included Julia Lopez Ramirez (Mississippi State; Spain), Charlotte Heath (Florida State; England), Mirabel Ting (Augusta; Malaysia), Maddison Hinson-Tolchard (Oklahoma State; Australia), Karisa Chul-Ak-Sorn (Iowa State; Thailand), and Carla Bernat (Tulane; Spain) for the women and Christo Lamprecht (Georgia Tech; South Africa), Christiaan Maas (Texas; South Africa), Herman Sekne (Purdue; Norway), Tyran Snyders (Texas Tech; South Africa), Sampson Zheng (California; China), and Karl Vilips (Stanford; Australia) for the men.
International team Committee selections were Mateo Fernández de Oliveira (Arkansas; Argentina), Max Kennedy (Louisville; Ireland), Frederik Kjettrup (Florida State; Denmark), Andrea Lignell (Ole Miss; Sweden), Caley McGinty (Ohio State; England), Lauren Walsh (Wake Forest; Ireland), and Lottie Woad (Florida State; England). Ryan Griffin (Maynooth; Ireland) and Lorna McClymont (Stirling; Scotland) were the representatives from The R&A Student Tour Series. Head Coaches John Handrigan and Golda Borst selected Mats Ege (East Tennessee State; Norway) and Chiara Tamburlini (Ole Miss; Switzerland), respectively, as their coach's picks.
COUGAR SWEEPSTAKES REGISTRATION
Houston Athletics fans are invited to register in the Cougar Sweepstakes presented by Mizzen+Main.
One fan who registers at uhcougars.com/mgolfsweepstakes will receive a free round to play with Dismuke at beautiful Bluejack National in Montgomery, Texas, as well as a $1,000 gift card from Mizzen+Main.
Fans are invited to submit their information on the registration page. The contest will end at 11:59 p.m., May 3, with the winner to be announced May 8.
UP NEXT
De La Fuente and his Cougar teammates will compete in NCAA Regional play at one at iof sites across the nation on May 15-17. Those venues include Auburn University Club (Auburn, Ala.); Eagle Eye (Bath, Michigan); Bear's Best Las Vegas (Las Vegas); The Institute Golf Club (Morgan Hill, Calif.); Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club (Norman, Okla.) and The Cliffs at Keowee Falls (Salem, S.C.).
The Top Five teams and the low individual not on a qualifying team at each NCAA Regional will advance to the NCAA Championships set for May 26-31 at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz.
The Cougars will learn their NCAA postseason fate during the NCAA Selection Show. That show will air at Noon, Wednesday, May 3, on Golf Channel.
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 PROJECT 17
Fans are invited to join Project 17 to support Houston Men's Golf. Project members provide financial support directly to Houston Men's Golf for needs beyond the program's operating budget.
For information about Project 17 or to join, fans can click here.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarMGolf on Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarMGolf. Fans also can follow the team on Instagram at uhcougarmgolf.
– UHCougars.com –
Players Mentioned
HIGHLIGHTS – Border Olympics Final Round (February 16, 2026)
Wednesday, February 18
HIGHLIGHTS – Border Olympics First Day (February 16, 2026)
Tuesday, February 17
PRACTICE ROUND – Border Olympics (February 15, 2026)
Sunday, February 15
PRACTICE (February 14, 2026)
Sunday, February 15









