Santiago De La Fuente Wins Title at Border Olympics

LAREDO, Texas & HUMBLE, Texas – After posting a sub-par score for the third straight round, University of Houston junior Santiago De La Fuente captured the individual championship of the Border Olympics with a score of 4-under 212 on Tuesday afternoon.

Starting his day off No. 1 on the 7,204-yard, par-72 course at Laredo Country Club, De La Fuente made birdie on his first hole of the day for the third straight round. After a birdie on the par-3 fifth hole and five straight pars, he ran into trouble with a double-bogey 6 on No. 11.

However, that would be the lone blemish on his scorecard with additional birdies on No. 13 and No. 17.

Santiago De La Fuente, Border Olympics Final Round

Santiago De La Fuente, Border Olympics Final Round

De La Fuente finished one shot ahead of Baylor's Johnny Keefer. Wright State's Davis Root and Rice's Raghav Chugh tied for third at 2-under 214.

De La Fuente collected the third title of his collegiate career but his first as a Cougar. He won a pair of events at Arkansas Tech before transferring to Houston in summer 2022.

This also marked the second straight season in which a Cougar earned Border Olympics medalist honors with Alexander Frances capturing the 2022 individual crown.

De La Fuente also became the 15^th different student-athlete to win the 22^nd individual title under Director of Golf Jonathan Dismuke.

Baylor won the team championship with a two-day score of 856. Michigan (879), ULM (880) and Coastal Carolina (881) rounded out the Top-Five leaders.

Senior Austyn Reily tied for 14^th with a score of 219 while sophomore Wolfgang Glawe tied for 21^st at 221. Senior Marcus Wochner enjoyed the team's low round of the day with a 70 and tied for 24^th at 222 while super senior Braxton Watkins tied for 52^nd at 228.

Competing as individuals, super senior Campbell Gibson tied for 24^th at 222 while sophomore Drew Murdock tied for 29^th at 223. Redshirt freshman Ruben Lindsay tied for 49^th at 227.

HOUSTON CLASSIC
In addition to the Border Olympics, three Cougars competed as individuals at the Houston Classic at Golf Club of Houston this week.

Senior Nick Sutton tied for ninth with a score of 1-under 215, thanks to back-to-back birdies on Nos. 7-8.

Sophomore Jacob Borow drained a team-high four birdies, including back-to-back efforts on Nos. 15-16, on the way to a 71 in Tuesday's Final Round. The Lake Jackson, Texas, native finished 11^th at 218.

Making his season debut, redshirt freshman Bryant Hiskey tied for 30^th at 225.

UP NEXT
Following the Border Olympics, the Cougars return to Houston to compete at the Rice Intercollegiate at Westwood Golf Club on Feb. 20-21.

Houston continues its spring slate when it tees off at the Cabo Collegiate at Twin Dolphin Club in Los Cabos, Mexico, on March 5-7. The Cougars also will send individuals to compete at the HCU Colin Montgomerie Invitational at Sweetwater Country Club on March 6-7.

From there, the Cougars play host to their own All-American Intercollegiate on March 20-21 at Golf Club of Houston in Humble, Texas.

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