Bismihi ta'ala

In this kind of situation, it is always best to have correct healthy communication with parents, to see the grounds, requirements and expectations the parents have towards who they want their child to get married to. 

You might think the father's excuse is baseless, or unfair, but your assessment might be wrong. 

The father is the guardian (wali), and he must act according to the interest of the daughter, which means if someone who is religious and has akhlaq, and is compatible to her (kuf`), proposes, and she expresses interest and approves, and everything is good from every other aspect, it is haram for him to refuse.

In Islam, it is called 'adhl (عضل), and it means the male guardian prohibiting marriage of women under his custody. And it is haram. 

And Allah knows best