University of Houston Athletics
De La Fuente Tees Off in The Open Championship on Thursday
7/17/2024 4:37:00 PM | Men's Golf
Cougar All-American playing in group with 1995 Open champion John Daly in first two rounds
TROON, SOUTH AYRSHIRE, SCOTLAND – University of Houston All-American Santiago De La Fuente will compete in his final major championship of the season when he tees off at The Open Championship at Royal Troon Old Course in Troon, South Ayrshire, Scotland.
De La Fuente earned his place at The Open Championship by capturing the title at the Latin America Amateur Championship at Santa Maria Golf Club in Panama City, Panama, in late January. He posted scores of 66-64 during the final two rounds to earn medalist honors by two strokes.
With that title, De La Fuente received an invitation to The Masters as well as exemptions to play in the 2024 U.S. Open Championship and 2024 The Open Championship.
In April, the Guadalajara, Mexico, native tied for 77th at The Masters in his major championship debut and tied for 140th at the US Open Championship on Course No. 2 at Pinehurst Resort and Country Club in June.
TUNE IN
Fans can watch The Open Championship First Round on Peacock beginning at 12:30 a.m. (CDT) with coverage starting on USA at 3 a.m. (CDT).
For more information, fans can click here.
LIVE SCORING
Fans can follow live scoring from The Open Championship by clicking here.
TEE TIMES
For the first two rounds, De La Fuente will be paired with 1995 Open champion John Daly (USA) and Aaron Rai (England).
That group begins Thursday's First Round off No. 1 at 2:36 a.m. (CDT) and tees off in the Second Round off No. 1 at 7:37 a.m. (CDT) Friday.
Complete tee times and pairings can be found by clicking here.
ABOUT SANTIAGO DE LA FUENTE
In two years at Houston, De La Fuente established himself as one of Houston Men's Golf's finest competitors.
He was a two-time Conference Player of the Year, earning Big 12 Conference honors in 2023-24 and from the American Athletic Conference following the 2022-23 season, and received All-America honors as a Second-Team honoree in June and as Honorable Mention in 2023.
He became the first Cougar to earn All-America honors in back-to-back seasons since Andy Sanders in 2000-01.
In 2023-24, De La Fuente led the Cougars with a 70.20 scoring mark with 20 rounds of par or better, including nine in the 60s. His scoring average ranked as the second-best mark in Houston single-season history and gave him two of the top three marks in that category.
De La Fuente opened the season with a score of 11-under 201 to tie for second at the Argent Financial Classic at Squire Creek Country Club on Sept. 10-12, 2023, and closed the year with six straight Top-15 showings.
He was selected as a member of Team International for the Arnold Palmer Cup for the second time and will compete at Lahinch Golf Club in Lahinch, Ireland on July 5-7.
De La Fuente fired four straight sub-par rounds at the Big 12 Championships at Whispering Pines Golf Club in Trinity, Texas, in the Cougars' first appearance at that postseason event and tied for fourth at 7-under 281. He was named to the Big 12 All-Tournament Team following that tournament.
He led the Cougars with a three-day score of even-par 216 and finished 14th at the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional at University Club in Baton Rouge, La., on May 13-15.
De La Fuente finished his Houston career with a 70.50 scoring average, the second-lowest mark in school history, according to the best UH records.
HOUSTON MEN'S GOLF at US OPEN
Houston Men's Golf has a rich history at The Open Championship with two Cougars claiming four titles.
Nick Faldo captured three championships in a six -year stretch from 1987 to 1992 while Bill Rogers was the first Cougar to hoist the Claret Jug after winning the 1981 tournament at Royal St. George's Golf Club.
Faldo also finished second at the 1993 Open Championship at Royal St. George's Golf Club while Phil Rodgers lost in a 36-hole playoff to Bob Charles at the 1963 Championship at Royal Lytham & St. Anne's Golf Club.
SUPPORT the COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Men's Golf by supporting Linking Coogs – UH's NIL collective and by joining Project 17, which provides financial support directly to Houston Men's Golf for needs beyond its operating budget.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarMGolf on X (formerly known as 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.
De La Fuente earned his place at The Open Championship by capturing the title at the Latin America Amateur Championship at Santa Maria Golf Club in Panama City, Panama, in late January. He posted scores of 66-64 during the final two rounds to earn medalist honors by two strokes.
With that title, De La Fuente received an invitation to The Masters as well as exemptions to play in the 2024 U.S. Open Championship and 2024 The Open Championship.
In April, the Guadalajara, Mexico, native tied for 77th at The Masters in his major championship debut and tied for 140th at the US Open Championship on Course No. 2 at Pinehurst Resort and Country Club in June.
TUNE IN
Fans can watch The Open Championship First Round on Peacock beginning at 12:30 a.m. (CDT) with coverage starting on USA at 3 a.m. (CDT).
For more information, fans can click here.
LIVE SCORING
Fans can follow live scoring from The Open Championship by clicking here.
TEE TIMES
For the first two rounds, De La Fuente will be paired with 1995 Open champion John Daly (USA) and Aaron Rai (England).
That group begins Thursday's First Round off No. 1 at 2:36 a.m. (CDT) and tees off in the Second Round off No. 1 at 7:37 a.m. (CDT) Friday.
Complete tee times and pairings can be found by clicking here.
ABOUT SANTIAGO DE LA FUENTE
In two years at Houston, De La Fuente established himself as one of Houston Men's Golf's finest competitors.
He was a two-time Conference Player of the Year, earning Big 12 Conference honors in 2023-24 and from the American Athletic Conference following the 2022-23 season, and received All-America honors as a Second-Team honoree in June and as Honorable Mention in 2023.
He became the first Cougar to earn All-America honors in back-to-back seasons since Andy Sanders in 2000-01.
In 2023-24, De La Fuente led the Cougars with a 70.20 scoring mark with 20 rounds of par or better, including nine in the 60s. His scoring average ranked as the second-best mark in Houston single-season history and gave him two of the top three marks in that category.
De La Fuente opened the season with a score of 11-under 201 to tie for second at the Argent Financial Classic at Squire Creek Country Club on Sept. 10-12, 2023, and closed the year with six straight Top-15 showings.
He was selected as a member of Team International for the Arnold Palmer Cup for the second time and will compete at Lahinch Golf Club in Lahinch, Ireland on July 5-7.
De La Fuente fired four straight sub-par rounds at the Big 12 Championships at Whispering Pines Golf Club in Trinity, Texas, in the Cougars' first appearance at that postseason event and tied for fourth at 7-under 281. He was named to the Big 12 All-Tournament Team following that tournament.
He led the Cougars with a three-day score of even-par 216 and finished 14th at the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional at University Club in Baton Rouge, La., on May 13-15.
De La Fuente finished his Houston career with a 70.50 scoring average, the second-lowest mark in school history, according to the best UH records.
HOUSTON MEN'S GOLF at US OPEN
Houston Men's Golf has a rich history at The Open Championship with two Cougars claiming four titles.
Nick Faldo captured three championships in a six -year stretch from 1987 to 1992 while Bill Rogers was the first Cougar to hoist the Claret Jug after winning the 1981 tournament at Royal St. George's Golf Club.
Faldo also finished second at the 1993 Open Championship at Royal St. George's Golf Club while Phil Rodgers lost in a 36-hole playoff to Bob Charles at the 1963 Championship at Royal Lytham & St. Anne's Golf Club.
SUPPORT the COOGS
Fans can make a direct impact on the success of Houston Men's Golf by supporting Linking Coogs – UH's NIL collective and by joining Project 17, which provides financial support directly to Houston Men's Golf for needs beyond its operating budget.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarMGolf on X (formerly known as 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
/ Men's Golf
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