University of Houston Athletics
University of Houston
American Athletic Conference Championships
Houston Sweeps The American Championships
4/16/2019 2:57:00 PM | Women's Golf
Cougars win team title by record 30 strokes, senior Leonie Harm crowned as individual champion at 8-under 208
| Scoring | Final Results | Photos | Schedule |
|---|
| Team | Rounds | Score | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | F | |||
| 1. | #34 Houston | 287 | 284 | 280 | 851 | -13 |
| 2. | UCF | 294 | 297 | 290 | 881 | +17 |
| 3. | Memphis | 304 | 292 | 289 | 885 | +21 |
| 4. | ECU | 296 | 299 | 293 | 888 | +24 |
| 5. | USF | 295 | 303 | 292 | 890 | +26 |
| 6. | SMU | 298 | 304 | 290 | 892 | +28 |
| 7. | Tulsa | 301 | 307 | 287 | 895 | +31 |
| 8. | Tulane | 305 | 297 | 305 | 907 | +43 |
| 9. | Wichita State | 302 | 303 | 303 | 908 | +44 |
| 10. | Cincinnati | 299 | 303 | 307 | 909 | +45 |
| HOUSTON LEADERS | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | F | |||
| 1. | Leonie Harm | 69 | 72 | 67 | 208 | -8 |
| t3. | Maddy Rayner | 74 | 68 | 70 | 212 | -4 |
| t6. | Hannah Screen | 74 | 72 | 70 | 216 | E |
| t6. | Maria Jose Martinez | 70 | 72 | 74 | 216 | E |
| t23. | Amanda Elich | 76 | 76 | 73 | 225 | +9 |
| OVERALL LEADERS | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | F | |||
| 1. | #10 Leonie Harm Houston |
69 | 72 | 67 | 208 | -8 |
| 2. | #81 Elizabeth Moon UCF |
70 | 71 | 69 | 210 | -6 |
| t3. | #78 Dorthea Forbrigd ECU |
73 | 72 | 67 | 212 | -4 |
| t3. | Maddy Rayner Houston |
74 | 68 | 70 | 212 | -4 |
| 5. | Jennifer Rosenberg Tulane |
73 | 73 | 69 | 215 | -1 |
PALM COAST, Fla. – For the third time in four years, the University of Houston Women's Golf program is the American Athletic Conference champion… and this time, the Cougars were joined by the individual champion.
Posting The American Championships' low round for the third consecutive day, Houston finished with a Championships record-low total of 13-under 851 to finish 30 strokes ahead of runner-up UCF on the 6,276-yard, par-72 Conservatory Course at Hammock Beach Resort.
The 34th-ranked Cougars finished Tuesday's Final Round at 8-under 280, bettering their 18-hole team total for the second straight day.
For the first time in her illustrious career and the first time in program history, senior All-American Leonie Harm earned The American Championships medalist honors with a score of 8-under 208. Harm, who recorded her school record third individual title of the season, finished two strokes ahead of runner-up Elizabeth Moon (UCF).
With Tuesday's title, the Cougars became the first American Athletic Conference school to win three Championships and became the first program in league history to record back-to-back league crowns.
Houston's 30-stroke victory was the largest in Championships history, more than doubling the Cougars' 14-stroke win in 2018.
The Women's Golf team also became the fifth Houston program to capture an American Athletic Conference championship in 2018-19, joining Men's Basketball, Swimming and Diving, Women's Indoor Track & Field and Men's Indoor Track & Field.
It marked the third straight season that Houston recorded 5+ American Athletic Conference titles in a year.
Harm was one of four Cougars to finish among the Championships' Top-8 leaders. Senior Maddy Rayner tied for third at 212 , while freshmen Hannah Screen and Maria Jose Martinez – competing in their first American Championships – tied for sixth at 216.
Harm birdied her first hole of the day but returned to even par with a bogey at No. 2 . The Gerlingen, Germany, native drained three birdies in a four-hole stretch on Nos. 5-8 and opened her back nine with a birdie on the 518-yard, par-5 10th hole.
Moon sank three straight birdies to close her front nine and, with a two-stroke swing, moved to within one stroke of Harm at No. 15 after Harm bogeyed the hole and Moon made birdie.
However, that margin did not last long. Harm made birdie on the 347-yard, par-4 16th hole to pull ahead by two strokes, and both players made par on No. 17. Moon had a slim chance to force a playoff on the final hole, but Harm calmly sank a 7-foot birdie putt on No. 18 to seal the title and a Final-Round 67.
For the second straight day, Rayner posted a sub-par round, finishing with a 70. After enduring a bogey on No. 6, the Southlake, Texas, native opened her back nine with a birdie on the par-5 10th hole and added birdies on two of her final three holes.
Her third-place finish topped her previous best of fourth at the Maryb S. Kauth Invitational on Oct. 14-16, 2018, and came a day after firing a career-best 68 in Monday's Second Round.
Screen lowered her score for the second straight day and finished the Final Round with a 70. The Berkhamsted, U.K., native enjoyed a bogey-free round Tuesday with birdies on No. 7 and No. 10.
Martinez joined Screen in the tie for sixth at 214, while junior Amanda Elich tied for 23rd at 225.
Memphis finished third at 885 with ECU (888), USF (890), SMU (892), Tulsa (895), Wichita State (908) and Cincinnati (909) completed the field.
THE AMERICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS HISTORY
This marked 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 competed in her fourth straight American Championships, while Elich played in the postseason event for the second straight season. Martinez, Rayner and Screen each made their American Championships debuts.
UP NEXT
Following the American Athletic Conference Championships, the Cougars learn their NCAA postseason destination. 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.
