University of Houston
American Athletic Conference Championships
Houston Holds Leads at The American Championships
4/14/2019 4:08:00 PM | Women's Golf
Cougars post team score of 1-under 287, senior Leonie Harm holds individual lead with 69
| Scoring | First-Round Results | Photos Second-Round Pairings | Schedule |
|---|
| Team | Rounds | Score | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | F | |||
| 1. | #34 Houston | 287 | 287 | -1 | ||
| 2. | UCF | 294 | 294 | +6 | ||
| 3. | USF | 295 | 295 | +7 | ||
| 4. | ECU | 296 | 296 | +8 | ||
| 5. | SMU | 298 | 298 | +10 | ||
| 6. | Cincinnati | 299 | 299 | +11 | ||
| 7. | Tulsa | 301 | 301 | +12 | ||
| 8. | Wichita State | 302 | 302 | +14 | ||
| 9. | Memphis | 304 | 304 | +16 | ||
| 10. | Tulane | 305 | 305 | +17 | ||
| HOUSTON LEADERS | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | F | |||
| 1. | #10 Leonie Harm | 69 | 69 | -3 | ||
| t2. | Maria Jose Martinez | 70 | 70 | -2 | ||
| t13. | #85 Hannah Screen | 74 | 74 | +2 | ||
| t13. | Maddy Rayner | 74 | 74 | +2 | ||
| t28. | Amanda Elich | 76 | 76 | +4 | ||
| OVERALL LEADERS | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | F | |||
| 1. | #10 Leonie Harm Houston |
69 | 69 | -3 | ||
| t2. | Maria Jose Martinez Houston |
70 | 70 | -2 | ||
| t2. | #81 Elizabeth Moon UCF |
70 | 70 | -2 | ||
| t2. | Natalia Villavicencio USF |
70 | 70 | -2 | ||
| t2. | Daniela Murcia Cincinnati |
70 | 70 | -2 | ||
PALM COAST, Fla. – The University of Houston Women's Golf program posted a score of 1-under 287 to hold the First Round lead Sunday afternoon at the American Athletic Conference Championships.
Competing on the 6,246-yard, par-72 Conservatory Course at Hammock Beach Resort, the 34th-ranked Cougars were the only team to break par through the first 18 holes.
It was the program's lowest First Round score at the American Championships, topping the previous record of 290 at the 2017 event and the fourth-lowest total in any Championships round in school history.
UCF stood in second at 294 with USF (295), ECU (296), SMU (298), Cincinnati (299), Tulsa (300), Wichita State (302), Memphis (304) and Tulane (305) following.
Senior All-American and defending American Athletic Conference Player of the Year Leonie Harm stood atop the individual leaderboard at 69, while freshman Maria Jose Martinez was tied for second at 70.
Starting her day off No. 1, Harm made par on her first three holes before enduring a bogey on the par-5 fourth hole. Fortunately, that would be the only mistake the Gerlingen, Germany, native would make.
Harm returned to even par with a birdie on the par-4 fifth hole and added back-to-back birdies on Nos. 8-9 to close out her front nine. She added another birdie on the par-3 12th hole and wrapped up with six straight pars to lead all players.
Competing in her first American Championships, Martinez finished the First Round one stroke back of her teammate. The Alvarado, Mexico, native overcame a bogey on the par-4 second hole and moved under par with consecutive birdies on Nos. 7-8.
Following her final bogey of the day on No. 14, she closed the first round with two birdies on her final 18 holes to tie with Elizabeth Moon (UCF), Daniela Murcia (Cincinnati) and Natalia Villavicencio (USF) for second.
Like Martinez, freshman Hannah Screen made her American Championships debut and was tied with senior Maddy Rayner for 13th at 74. Junior Amanda Elich was tied for 28th at 76.
LIVE SCORING
Fans can follow live scoring from the American Athletic Conference Championships by clicking here.
PAIRINGS
The Championships continues with the Second Round, beginning at 7 a.m. (CDT) Monday. The Cougars will compete in groups with student-athletes from UCF beginning at 9:40 a.m. (CDT) off No. 1.
Elich begins the Championships for Houston at 9:40 a.m. (CDT) Monday with Rayner (9:48 a.m.), Screen (9:56 a.m.), Martinez (10:04 a.m.) and Harm (10:12 a.m.) following.
Complete Second-Round pairings can be found by clicking here.
THE AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS HISTORY
This marks the sixth consecutive season in which the Cougars have competed at the American Athletic Conference Championships, each at Hammock Beach Resort.
The Cougars captured the team title in 2018 and 2016 with third-place finishes in 2017 and 2015. In the program's first year of existence, Houston sent three student-athletes as individuals to the 2014 Championships but were not eligible for the team title per NCAA rules.
Harm will be competing in her fourth straight American Championships, while Elich will play in the postseason event for the second straight season. Martinez, Rayner and Screen will make their American Championships debuts in Sunday's First Round.
UP NEXT
Following the American Athletic Conference Championships, the Cougars will learn their NCAA postseason fate. The NCAA Women's Golf Selection Show will air at 4:30 p.m., April 24, on the Golf Channel.
NCAA Regional competition runs May 6-8 and will be held at the following sites across the nation: Saugahatchee Country Club (Opelika, Ala.); Tumble Creek Golf Club (Cle Elum, Wash.); Forest Akers Golf Courses – West (East Lansing, Mich.) and Jimmie Austin Golf Club (Norman, Okla.).
Each Regional will feature 18 teams and six individuals. The low six teams and the low three individuals not on a qualifying team advance to the NCAA Championships at The Blessings Golf Club in Fayetteville, Ark., on May 17-22.
JOIN THE P.A.R. 4 CLUB
Fans are invited to join The P.A.R. 4 Club to support Houston Women's Golf. P.A.R. 4 Club members provide financial support directly to Houston Women's Golf for needs beyond the program's operating budget.
Fans who join the P.A.R. 4 Club can begin receiving benefits for as little as $100 annually.
To join the P.A.R. 4 Club, fans can call 713-743-9417 or email gchadwel@central.uh.edu. For more information about the P.A.R. 4 Club, levels of giving and benefits, fans can click here.
STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarWGolf on Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarWGolf or on the team's Instagram page at UHCougarWGolf.
Players Mentioned
