SUTTON COLDFIELD, England — California's Andrew Rodriguez and Isabella Fernandez were crowned UNDERRATED Golf European Tour champions at The Belfry on Wednesday, finishing as the only two players to break par across 36 holes on the iconic four-time Ryder Cup host.
Rodriguez, an 18-year-old with a +4 handicap and last year's Curry Cup finalist, backed up his opening 69 with a closing 73 to finish at 2-under-par 142 — a three-shot margin over Jenson Ringer (145). Fernandez delivered the round of the day on the girls' side, signing for a 1-under 71 to overtake the field and finish at 1-under 145, nine shots clear of nearest pursuer Julia Herzberg.
I was driving the ball really well and I was able to put myself into a great position to make a lot of putts. I am feeling really confident — just go and finish the job and hopefully get the win. Andrew Rodriguez — Boys' Champion, −2
Rodriguez set the tone early in Round 1, opening with a birdie and racing to three-under through five before the back nine tightened. He carried a three-shot lead into the final round and never relinquished it, with Ringer's steady 72 closing the gap but never threatening the top spot. Daniil Sokolov finished alone in third at +6 (150), while Jordan Brown, Coby Arazi and Mo Craig shared fourth at +9 (153).
The Belfry's defenses, Rodriguez said, started in the fairway and finished in the rough. “The course is playing tough because you have to find your position from the tee, and the rough around the green is pretty penal; it might not look it but it's tough because your ball will sit down, so you just have to keep it on the fairway off the tee.”
Fernandez's Closing 71 Seals It
The girls' division turned on a single round. Fernandez and Isobel Kelly had shared the Round 1 lead at +1, but a final-round 71 — one of only two sub-par scores all week — vaulted Fernandez to the title at 1-under-par. Julia Herzberg, last year's Curry Cup champion, climbed to second at +8 (154), with Shania Valentina Breinhoelder third at +10 (156). Round 1 co-leader Kelly, the 2024 Curry Cup champion who leaned on irons and a 5-wood off the tee, faded from the top five.
Myla Robinson, last year's Foxhills winner, finished fourth at +12 (158), with Sommer Chan fifth at +13 (159).
Final Leaderboards
| Pos | Player | To Par | R1 | R2 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Andrew Rodriguez | −2 | 69 | 73 | 142 |
| 2 | Jenson Ringer (AC) | +1 | 73 | 72 | 145 |
| 3 | Daniil Sokolov | +6 | 73 | 77 | 150 |
| T4 | Jordan Brown | +9 | 72 | 81 | 153 |
| T4 | Coby Arazi | +9 | 77 | 76 | 153 |
| T4 | Mo Craig (UR) | +9 | 78 | 75 | 153 |
| Pos | Player | To Par | R1 | R2 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Isabella Fernandez | −1 | 74 | 71 | 145 |
| 2 | Julia Herzberg | +8 | 77 | 77 | 154 |
| 3 | Shania Valentina Breinhoelder (OP) | +10 | 75 | 81 | 156 |
| 4 | Myla Robinson | +12 | 78 | 80 | 158 |
| 5 | Sommer Chan (EQ) | +13 | 78 | 81 | 159 |
Fujikura: A Partner in the Mission
The week at The Belfry marked the first event of the 2026 season under an expanded multi-year partnership between the UNDERRATED Golf Tour and Fujikura Composites America, the global leader in high-performance golf shaft innovation. After supporting the Tour's US events in 2025, Fujikura's commitment now extends across the full global schedule through 2027 — including the European leg for the first time.
That support was on full display this week, with Fujikura's fitting team on the ground at The Belfry providing the same Tour-level driver and wood shaft-fitting service used by the world's elite professionals — delivered directly to junior athletes.
We want to give as many players as possible the best opportunities to play to their very best — and to help spread the message that everybody can grow through golf. David Schnider — President & CEO, Fujikura
The alignment matters because diverse communities remain significantly underrepresented in golf — less than 2% of all golfers identify as Black or LatinX — a statistic UNDERRATED Golf was founded to change.
Fujikura has been an incredible partner because they understand that access is about more than simply getting young players on a golf course. By bringing custom-fitting and Tour-level expertise directly to our junior athletes, Fujikura is helping us create an environment where these young golfers can compete, grow and see what is possible for themselves in this game. Jason Richards — Athletic Director, UNDERRATED Golf
On to the Curry Cup
Rodriguez and Fernandez each take home the UNDERRATED Golf European Trophy and automatic spots in the Curry Cup — the season-ending 36-hole Tour Championship contested by the Tour's top 28 boys and girls in the United States, played in front of UNDERRATED founder Stephen Curry.
