2023-24 Men's Golf Roster
Roster
De La Fuente, Santiago
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
/ Men's Golf
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/ Men's Golf
Santiago De La Fuente
- Height:
- 6-1
- Weight:
- 185
- Class:
- Senior
- Hometown:
- Guadalajara, Mexico
- High School:
- Colegio Espana
Bio
HONORS
• 2024 Arnold Palmer Cup Team International member
• 2023 Arnold Palmer Cup Team International member
• 2023-24 PING All-America Second Team
• 2022-23 PING All-America Honorable Mention
• 2020-21 PING All-America Honorable Mention
• 2023-24 Big 12 Conference Player of the Year
• 2022-23 American Athletic Conference Player of the Year
• 2023-24 PING All-Central Region Team
• 2022-23 PING All-Central Region Team
• 2023-24 All-Big 12 Conference Team
• 2022-23 All-American Athletic Conference Team
• 2021-22 All-Great American Conference First Team
• 2020-21 Great American Conference Freshman of the Year
• 2020-21 GCAA All-Central Region
• 2021 All-Great American Conference First Team
• 2020-21 GCAA All-Freshman Team
• 2023 The American Championships Individual Champion
• 2023 Border Olympics Individual Champion
• 2022 Houston Classic Individual Champion
• 2021 Battle for the Belt Individual Champion
• 2023-24 Big 12 All-Tournament Team
• American Athletic Conference Golfer of the Week (April 13, 2023)
• American Athletic Conference Golfer of the Week (March 8, 2023)
• American Athletic Conference Golfer of the Week (Feb. 15, 2023)
• 2023-24 Spring Academic All-Big 12 First Team
• 2022-23 American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team
SENIOR (2023-24)
Led team with 70.20 scoring average, 20 rounds of par or better and nine in the 60s... Finished his career with 70.50 scoring average, second best in school history... Posted second-best scoring average in Houston single-season history with 70.20 mark... Made his season debut as individual at Argent Financial Classic at Squire Creek Country Club in Choudrant, La... Fired three straight sub-par rounds to lead the Cougars and tie for second with a score of 11-under 205... Enjoyed a bogey-free 66 in the Second Round at that event... Opened the Highlands Invitational at Chicago Highlands Club with back-to-back 71s and led the Cougars at 1-under 215 to tie for 24th.. Finished with a 2-2-1-record at Big 12 Match Play Tournament at The Clubs at Houston Oaks in Hockley, Texas... Tied for 17th individually at World Amateur Team Championships with score of 8-under 280 at Abu Dhabi Golf Club... Captured the title at the Latin America Amateur Championship in January with a score of 10-under 270 at Santa Maria Golf Club in Panama City, Panama, on Jan. 18-21... Closed that tournament with a 64... Fired three straight rounds in the 60s to lead the Cougaars and finished fifth at the spring season-opening Southwestern Invitational at North Ranch Country Club in Westlake Village, Calif... Opened that tournament with a 67... Competed as amateur in PGA Tour debut at Mexico Open at Vidanta in late February at Vidanta Vallarta... Opened and closed the Cabo Collegiate with sub-par rounds and led the Cougars with a score of 2-under 211 to tie for 14th at Twin Dolphin Golf Club in Los Cabos, Mexico... Lowered his score with each round with a Final-Round 67 to tie for third and lead the Cougars with a score of 4-under 212 at Golf Club of Houston in Humble, Texas... Tied for 13th with a score of 2-under 211 to lead the Cougars at the Valspar Collegiate Invitational at Floridian National Golf Club in Palm City, Fla... Closed that tournament with a 67... Posted a score of 154 (76-78) to tie for 77th at The Masters in his first major appearance... Fired four straight sub-par rounds to lead the Cougars and tie for fourth at Big 12 Championships with score of 7-under 288 at Whispering Pines Golf Club in Trinity, Texas... Named to 10-man All-Tournament Team for second straight season on Conference Championships postseason squad... Led the Cougars at NCAA Baton Rouge Regional at University Club with score of even-par 216 to finish 14th. Summer: Posted a 71 in the Second Round of that tournament... Tied for 140th with score of 153 at U.S. Open Championship on Course No. 2 at Pinehurst Resort and Country Club... Posted a 2-1-1 record in Arnold Palmer Cup at Lahinch Golf Club in Lahinch, Ireland... Teamed with UCLA's Omar Morales to win final hole and halve Foursomes match in morning on second day... Joined with Mississippi State's Julia Lopez Ramirez to win final two holes in 2&1 win over Team USA's Anna Davis (Auburn)-Brendan Valdes (Auburn) in afternoon Mixed Foursomes match... Led wire-to-wire in 4&2 win over Jackson Klutznick (Emory) in Singles match on final day... Tied for 143rd with score of 156 in The Open Championship at Royal Troon Golf Club in Troon, South Ayrshire, Scotland, in July.
JUNIOR (2022-23)
Became first Cougar since 2016 to receive All-America honors... Led Houston with a 70.71 scoring average and 26 rounds of par or better, including 13 in the 60s... Posted the second-lowest single-season scoring average in school history, according to the best records... Made his Houston debut as an individual at season-opening Jim Rivers Intercollegiate at Squire Creek Country Club in Choudrant, La... Opened and closed that tournaments with 69 to tie for 12th at 6-under 210... Posted a score of 7-under 137 to tie for second and lead the Cougars vs. Sam Houston in Bluejack National Shootout at Bluejack National in Montgomery, Texas... Closed that event with a 68 in Final Round... Tied for 10th at Trinity Forest Invitational with score of 6-under 210 at Trinity Forest Golf Club in Dallas... Opened that tournament with a 69 and closed with a 67, the team’s low round of the event... Finished 13th at the Williams Cup with score of 221 at Eagle Point Golf Club in Wilmington, N.C... Captured the Border Olympics individual title at Laredo Country Club in Laredo, Texas, with a score of 4-under 212... Named American Athletic Conference Golfer of the Week following that performance... Tied for second at the Bayou City Collegiate Classic with a score of 8-under 208 at Westwood Golf Club in Houston... Tied for 13th with a score of even-par 213 at the Cabo Collegiate at Twin Dolphin Club in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico... Opened that tournament with scores of 70-71... Named the American Athletic Conference Golfer of the Week for the second time following that performance... Fired rounds of 69-68 on the first day of the All-American Intercollegiate and tied for 3rd with a score of 5-under 211 at Golf Club of Houston in Humble, Texas... Posted a 70 in the Final Round and finished with a score of even-par 216 to tie for 17th and lead the Cougars at the Aggie Invitational at Traditions Club in Bryan-College Station, Texas... Fired three straight rounds in the 60s on the way to a score of 10-under 200 to capture the American Athletic Conference Championships individual title... Drained three birdies during his final six holes of the final round to capture his second individual title of the season. Summer: Selected to compete for Team International the Arnold Palmer Cup at Laurel Valley Golf Club in Ligonier, Pa., in June 2022... Teamed with Tulane’s Carla Bernat for Team International’s first point with a 2&1 win over Olivia Mitchell and Alex Price in Mixed Four-Ball... Claimed the final two holes to take a 2 up win over David Ford in singles match on final day of Arnold Palmer Cup.
PRE-HOUSTON
Competed for his first two collegiate seasons at Arkansas Tech... Led Wonder Boys to NCAA Division II national championship as a freshman in 2021... Posted 17 Top-20 finishes in 22 tournaments in his career. Sophomore (2021-22 at Arkansas Tech): Named to All-Central Region Team by Golf Coaches Association of America... Was a unanimous selection on All-Great American Conference First Team... Finished sixth at the Great American Conference Championships with a score of 217... Tied for 10th at The Argonaut Invitational with a score of 2-under 214 after opening the tournament with back-to-back 70s... Tied for medalist honors at the Houston Classic with a score of 3-under 213 at Golf Club of Houston... Posted a career-low-tying 65 in Second Round of that tournament... Was the second title of his collegiate career... Finished third in the Battle for the Belt with score of 8-under 208... Fired three straight sub-par rounds, including a First-Round 67... Finished second after losing the first playoff hole at the NSU Classic... Posted a 54-hole total of 8-under 205 to force the playoff with a career-low 65 in the First Round... Tied for fifth in the season-opening Washburn Invitational, thanks to a Final-Round 68. Freshman (2020-21 at Arkansas Tech): Helped lead Arkansas Tech to NCAA Division II national championship... Tied for eighth individually with score of 226.... Earned PING All-America Honorable Mention Honors and was a unanimous selection as Great American Conference Freshman of the Year... Earned place on GCAA All-Central Region Team and was a member of the Great American Conference All-Freshman Team... Defeated West Florida’s Carlos Marrero by three strokes in the NCAA Championship Match Play Semifinals... Finished third at Great American Conference Championships with score of 1-under 215, thanks to a Second-Round 67... Tied for 10th at The Broncho Invitational with score of 219... Lowered his total with each round, including a 70 in the final 18 holes... Earned the first individual title of his collegiate career with a 6-under 210 at the Battle of the Belt... Posted a 66 in the Second Round of that event... Lowered his score with each round and tied for sixth at the Rattler Invitational with total of even-par 216... Closed that tournament with rounds of 70-68... Began his collegiate career with a score of 1-under 215 and a fourth-place finish at the Houston Classic... Opened and closed that tournament with 71s.
HIGH SCHOOL / JUNIOR CAREER
Graduated from Colegio Espana before entering the collegiate ranks... Shot a low round of 12-under 60 in a tournament.
PERSONAL
Full name is Santiago De la Fuente del Valle ... Born in Ocotlan, Jalisco, Mexico... Son of Gerardo de la Fuente and Luz Patricia del Valle... Majoring in psychology.
CAREER STATISTICS
• 2024 Arnold Palmer Cup Team International member
• 2023 Arnold Palmer Cup Team International member
• 2023-24 PING All-America Second Team
• 2022-23 PING All-America Honorable Mention
• 2020-21 PING All-America Honorable Mention
• 2023-24 Big 12 Conference Player of the Year
• 2022-23 American Athletic Conference Player of the Year
• 2023-24 PING All-Central Region Team
• 2022-23 PING All-Central Region Team
• 2023-24 All-Big 12 Conference Team
• 2022-23 All-American Athletic Conference Team
• 2021-22 All-Great American Conference First Team
• 2020-21 Great American Conference Freshman of the Year
• 2020-21 GCAA All-Central Region
• 2021 All-Great American Conference First Team
• 2020-21 GCAA All-Freshman Team
• 2023 The American Championships Individual Champion
• 2023 Border Olympics Individual Champion
• 2022 Houston Classic Individual Champion
• 2021 Battle for the Belt Individual Champion
• 2023-24 Big 12 All-Tournament Team
• American Athletic Conference Golfer of the Week (April 13, 2023)
• American Athletic Conference Golfer of the Week (March 8, 2023)
• American Athletic Conference Golfer of the Week (Feb. 15, 2023)
• 2023-24 Spring Academic All-Big 12 First Team
• 2022-23 American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team
| Career Bests | ||||
| Low Round | 65 65 |
Houston Classic (Feb. 7, 2022) NSU Classic (Sept. 19, 2021) |
||
| Low 36 | 132 | NSU Classic (Sept. 19-20, 2021) | ||
| Low 54 | 200 | The American Championships (April 21-23, 2023) | ||
| Relative to Par | -11 | Argent Financial Classic (Sept. 10-12, 2023) | ||
| Best Finish | 1st 1st 1st 1st |
The American Championships (April 21-23, 2023) Border Olympics (Feb. 13-14, 2023) Houston Classic (Feb. 7-8, 2022) Battle for the Belt (March 8-9, 2021) |
||
Led team with 70.20 scoring average, 20 rounds of par or better and nine in the 60s... Finished his career with 70.50 scoring average, second best in school history... Posted second-best scoring average in Houston single-season history with 70.20 mark... Made his season debut as individual at Argent Financial Classic at Squire Creek Country Club in Choudrant, La... Fired three straight sub-par rounds to lead the Cougars and tie for second with a score of 11-under 205... Enjoyed a bogey-free 66 in the Second Round at that event... Opened the Highlands Invitational at Chicago Highlands Club with back-to-back 71s and led the Cougars at 1-under 215 to tie for 24th.. Finished with a 2-2-1-record at Big 12 Match Play Tournament at The Clubs at Houston Oaks in Hockley, Texas... Tied for 17th individually at World Amateur Team Championships with score of 8-under 280 at Abu Dhabi Golf Club... Captured the title at the Latin America Amateur Championship in January with a score of 10-under 270 at Santa Maria Golf Club in Panama City, Panama, on Jan. 18-21... Closed that tournament with a 64... Fired three straight rounds in the 60s to lead the Cougaars and finished fifth at the spring season-opening Southwestern Invitational at North Ranch Country Club in Westlake Village, Calif... Opened that tournament with a 67... Competed as amateur in PGA Tour debut at Mexico Open at Vidanta in late February at Vidanta Vallarta... Opened and closed the Cabo Collegiate with sub-par rounds and led the Cougars with a score of 2-under 211 to tie for 14th at Twin Dolphin Golf Club in Los Cabos, Mexico... Lowered his score with each round with a Final-Round 67 to tie for third and lead the Cougars with a score of 4-under 212 at Golf Club of Houston in Humble, Texas... Tied for 13th with a score of 2-under 211 to lead the Cougars at the Valspar Collegiate Invitational at Floridian National Golf Club in Palm City, Fla... Closed that tournament with a 67... Posted a score of 154 (76-78) to tie for 77th at The Masters in his first major appearance... Fired four straight sub-par rounds to lead the Cougars and tie for fourth at Big 12 Championships with score of 7-under 288 at Whispering Pines Golf Club in Trinity, Texas... Named to 10-man All-Tournament Team for second straight season on Conference Championships postseason squad... Led the Cougars at NCAA Baton Rouge Regional at University Club with score of even-par 216 to finish 14th. Summer: Posted a 71 in the Second Round of that tournament... Tied for 140th with score of 153 at U.S. Open Championship on Course No. 2 at Pinehurst Resort and Country Club... Posted a 2-1-1 record in Arnold Palmer Cup at Lahinch Golf Club in Lahinch, Ireland... Teamed with UCLA's Omar Morales to win final hole and halve Foursomes match in morning on second day... Joined with Mississippi State's Julia Lopez Ramirez to win final two holes in 2&1 win over Team USA's Anna Davis (Auburn)-Brendan Valdes (Auburn) in afternoon Mixed Foursomes match... Led wire-to-wire in 4&2 win over Jackson Klutznick (Emory) in Singles match on final day... Tied for 143rd with score of 156 in The Open Championship at Royal Troon Golf Club in Troon, South Ayrshire, Scotland, in July.
JUNIOR (2022-23)
Became first Cougar since 2016 to receive All-America honors... Led Houston with a 70.71 scoring average and 26 rounds of par or better, including 13 in the 60s... Posted the second-lowest single-season scoring average in school history, according to the best records... Made his Houston debut as an individual at season-opening Jim Rivers Intercollegiate at Squire Creek Country Club in Choudrant, La... Opened and closed that tournaments with 69 to tie for 12th at 6-under 210... Posted a score of 7-under 137 to tie for second and lead the Cougars vs. Sam Houston in Bluejack National Shootout at Bluejack National in Montgomery, Texas... Closed that event with a 68 in Final Round... Tied for 10th at Trinity Forest Invitational with score of 6-under 210 at Trinity Forest Golf Club in Dallas... Opened that tournament with a 69 and closed with a 67, the team’s low round of the event... Finished 13th at the Williams Cup with score of 221 at Eagle Point Golf Club in Wilmington, N.C... Captured the Border Olympics individual title at Laredo Country Club in Laredo, Texas, with a score of 4-under 212... Named American Athletic Conference Golfer of the Week following that performance... Tied for second at the Bayou City Collegiate Classic with a score of 8-under 208 at Westwood Golf Club in Houston... Tied for 13th with a score of even-par 213 at the Cabo Collegiate at Twin Dolphin Club in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico... Opened that tournament with scores of 70-71... Named the American Athletic Conference Golfer of the Week for the second time following that performance... Fired rounds of 69-68 on the first day of the All-American Intercollegiate and tied for 3rd with a score of 5-under 211 at Golf Club of Houston in Humble, Texas... Posted a 70 in the Final Round and finished with a score of even-par 216 to tie for 17th and lead the Cougars at the Aggie Invitational at Traditions Club in Bryan-College Station, Texas... Fired three straight rounds in the 60s on the way to a score of 10-under 200 to capture the American Athletic Conference Championships individual title... Drained three birdies during his final six holes of the final round to capture his second individual title of the season. Summer: Selected to compete for Team International the Arnold Palmer Cup at Laurel Valley Golf Club in Ligonier, Pa., in June 2022... Teamed with Tulane’s Carla Bernat for Team International’s first point with a 2&1 win over Olivia Mitchell and Alex Price in Mixed Four-Ball... Claimed the final two holes to take a 2 up win over David Ford in singles match on final day of Arnold Palmer Cup.
PRE-HOUSTON
Competed for his first two collegiate seasons at Arkansas Tech... Led Wonder Boys to NCAA Division II national championship as a freshman in 2021... Posted 17 Top-20 finishes in 22 tournaments in his career. Sophomore (2021-22 at Arkansas Tech): Named to All-Central Region Team by Golf Coaches Association of America... Was a unanimous selection on All-Great American Conference First Team... Finished sixth at the Great American Conference Championships with a score of 217... Tied for 10th at The Argonaut Invitational with a score of 2-under 214 after opening the tournament with back-to-back 70s... Tied for medalist honors at the Houston Classic with a score of 3-under 213 at Golf Club of Houston... Posted a career-low-tying 65 in Second Round of that tournament... Was the second title of his collegiate career... Finished third in the Battle for the Belt with score of 8-under 208... Fired three straight sub-par rounds, including a First-Round 67... Finished second after losing the first playoff hole at the NSU Classic... Posted a 54-hole total of 8-under 205 to force the playoff with a career-low 65 in the First Round... Tied for fifth in the season-opening Washburn Invitational, thanks to a Final-Round 68. Freshman (2020-21 at Arkansas Tech): Helped lead Arkansas Tech to NCAA Division II national championship... Tied for eighth individually with score of 226.... Earned PING All-America Honorable Mention Honors and was a unanimous selection as Great American Conference Freshman of the Year... Earned place on GCAA All-Central Region Team and was a member of the Great American Conference All-Freshman Team... Defeated West Florida’s Carlos Marrero by three strokes in the NCAA Championship Match Play Semifinals... Finished third at Great American Conference Championships with score of 1-under 215, thanks to a Second-Round 67... Tied for 10th at The Broncho Invitational with score of 219... Lowered his total with each round, including a 70 in the final 18 holes... Earned the first individual title of his collegiate career with a 6-under 210 at the Battle of the Belt... Posted a 66 in the Second Round of that event... Lowered his score with each round and tied for sixth at the Rattler Invitational with total of even-par 216... Closed that tournament with rounds of 70-68... Began his collegiate career with a score of 1-under 215 and a fourth-place finish at the Houston Classic... Opened and closed that tournament with 71s.
HIGH SCHOOL / JUNIOR CAREER
Graduated from Colegio Espana before entering the collegiate ranks... Shot a low round of 12-under 60 in a tournament.
PERSONAL
Full name is Santiago De la Fuente del Valle ... Born in Ocotlan, Jalisco, Mexico... Son of Gerardo de la Fuente and Luz Patricia del Valle... Majoring in psychology.
CAREER STATISTICS
| Low Tour | Low | Par/- | Finish Top | |||||||||
| Season | Rounds | Strokes | 54-holes | Round | Rounds | Events | 1 | 5 | 10 | W-L | W-L% | Average |
| 2020-21 (at AT) | 28 | 2,051 | 210 | 66 | 7 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 5 | – | – | 73.25 |
| 2021-22 (at AT) | 36 | 2,629 | 205 | 65 | 16 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 7 | – | – | 73.03 |
| 2022-23 | 35 | 2,475 | 200 | 66 | 26 | 12 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 803-131 | .860 | 70.71 |
| 2023-24 | 25 | 1,755 | 204 | 66 | 20 | 8 | – | 4 | 4 | 589-71 | .892 | 70.20 |
| UH Totals | 60 | 4,230 | 200 | 66 | 46 | 20 | 2 | 9 | 10 | 1,392-202 | .873 | 70.50 |
| AT Totals | 64 | 4,680 | 205 | 65 | 23 | 22 | 2 | 5 | 12 | – | – | 73.13 |
| Totals | 124 | 8,910 | 200 | 65 | 69 | 42 | 4 | 14 | 22 | 1,392-202 | .873 | 71.85 |
HIGHLIGHTS – NCAA Urbana Regional (May 14, 2025)
Friday, May 16
HIGHLIGHTS – NCAA Urbana Regional Second Round (May 13, 2025)
Tuesday, May 13
HIGHLIGHTS – NCAA Urbana Regional First Round (May 12, 2025)
Monday, May 12
HIGHLIGHTS – NCAA Urbana Regional Practice Round (May 11, 2025)
Sunday, May 11
