DALLAS – University of Houston junior Santiago De La Fuente fired a 3-under 69 to lead the Cougars and tie for eighth following the First Round of the Trinity Forest Invitational at Trinity Forest Golf Club on Sunday afternoon.
Starting his day off No. 1 on the 7,372-yard, par-72 course, De La Fuente opened his day with back-to-back birdies on Nos. 1-2 and added additional birdies on No. 5 and No. 9. The Mexico City native enjoyed eight pars with only one bogey on his back nine to tie for fifth with a 69.
A transfer from Arkansas Tech in his first season with the Cougars, has opened his Cougar career with six consecutive rounds of par or better, including five in the 60s.
De La Fuente joined Matteo Cristoni (Little Rock), Trey Bosco (Baylor), Dawson Ovard (SMU) and Zach Heffernan (Baylor) in a tie for eighth through 18 holes.
As a team, the Cougars posted a total of even-par 288 and stood seventh in the 17-team field. Little Rock held the first-day lead at 279 with SMU in second at 282. Furman was in third at 283, while SMU (B) and Baylor were tied for fourth at 286. FAU stood in sixth at 286 with Middle Tennessee (289) , Loyola Marymount (289) and Sam Houston (289) completed the Top 10.
Senior Braxton Watkins posted a 70 Sunday after enduring tough starts to his front and back nines. Beginning his day off No. 1, Watkins rebounded from a bogey on No. 3 to sink birdies in three of his next five holes.
Following a triple bogey on No. 10, the Winthrop, Ark., native drained three straight birdies on Nos. 14-16 and ended the round with two straight pars to tie for 13th with a 70.
Senior Marcus Wochner was tied for 40th at 73, while sophomore Wolfgang Glawe was tied for 68th at 76. Senior Austin Reilly and redshirt Reuben Lindsay – playing as an individual – were tied for 89th at 81
Furman Will Morlan holds the First-Round lead with a 67. Holden Wisener (SMU), Brett Gray (Sam Houston), Jansen Smith (Little Rock), Christian Fanfelle (UTSA), Nathan Petronzio (SMU) and Max Sturdza (FAU) were tied for second at 68.
The tournament continues with the Second Round on Monday and the Final Round teeing off on Tuesday.
PAIRING
For Monday’s Second Round, the Cougars will compete in groups with student-athletes from Middle Tennessee and Sam Houston
Reily starts the day for Houston at 8:30 am, Monday, off No. 1 with Glawe (8:40 am), Wochner, (8:50 am), Watkins (9 am) and De La Fuente (9:10 am) following. Lindsay tees off No. 10 at 10:55 am, Monday.
Fans can find complete pairings by clicking here.
UP NEXT
Following the Trinity Forest Invitational, the Cougars close out their fall schedule when they compete at The Williams Cup on Oct. 23-25 at Eagle Point Golf Club in Wilmington, NC
From there, the Cougars take a break until they open their spring season at the Border Olympics on Feb. 13-14, 2023, at Laredo Country Club in Laredo, Texas.
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– UHCougars.com