Men’s Golf Leads First Round at The American Championships

BELLEAIR, Fla. – University of Houston senior Austyn Reily drained three eagles with a pair of birdies on the way to a record-setting 64 to lead all during the American Athletic Conference Championships First Round at Pelican Golf Club on Friday afternoon.

With his performance, Reily set the program's record low round at a conference tournament. His total topped the previous 18-hole low of 65 by Roman Robledo in the Second Round of the Conference USA Championships (April 22, 2013) and by Tray Tryner in the Second Round of the Southwest Conference Championships (April 16, 1987).

Austyn Reily, American Athletic Conference First Round

Austyn Reily, American Athletic Conference First Round

As a team, the Cougars posted a team score of 8-under 272 and held the first-day lead by five strokes over UCF on the 6,881-yard, par-72 course.

Junior Santiago De La Fuente drained a team-high six birdies in a 66 and tied for second with James Morgan (Memphis) and Ethan Whitney (Temple).

The Second Round continues Saturday morning with the Final Round set to begin Sunday morning.

Starting his day off No. 1, Reily wasted no time in moving into red numbers. After nearly driving the green, the Pottsboro, Texas, native chipped in an eagle from 30 yards out.

Following five straight pars, he added his second eagle of the day on the par-5 seventh hole and added his third eagle on the 381-yard, par-4 11^th hole. He drained his first birdie of the tournament on the 178-yard, par-3 12^th hole and added another on No. 17.

In addition to the program's low round at a conference tournament, Reily also set a personal 18-hole best. He topped his previous low of 67 set during the Second Round of the American Athletic Conference Championships at Southern Hills Plantation Club in Brooksville, Fla. (April 23, 2022).

Santiago De La Fuente

Like Reily, De La Fuente quickly moved under par with a birdie on No. 1. After a bogey at No. 3, the Guadalajara, Mexico, native returned to red numbers with three birdies on his next four holes, including back-to-back efforts at Nos. 4-5.

After three straight pars to open his back nine, De La Fuente drained back-to-back birdies again at Nos. 13-14 for his team-leading 23^rd round of par or lower in 2022-23.

Sophomores Wolfgang Glawe and Jacob Borow were tied for 16^th with 71s while super senior Braxton Watkins was tied for 33^rd at 74.

South Florida stood in third at 278 while #40 Cincinnati and Memphis were tied for fourth at 284. SMU (285), Wichita State (292), East Carolina (293) and Temple (294) rounded out the field.

TUNE IN
Fans can watch the American Athletic Conference Championships Final Round on Sunday on ESPN+ with Lincoln Rose, Ed Clements and Morgan Uber calling the action by clicking here.

LIVE SCORING
Fans can follow live scoring at the American Athletic Conference Championships by visiting Golfstat.com and following the appropriate links or by clicking here.

PAIRINGS
For Saturday's Second Round, the Cougars will compete in groups with student-athletes from UCF and South Florida.

Watkins will start the day at 9:10 a.m. (CDT), off No. 1 with Borow (9:23 a.m. CDT), Glawe (9:36 a.m. CDT), De La Fuente (9:49 a.m. CDT) and Reily (10:02 a.m. CDT) following.

Fans can find complete American Athletic Conference Championship pairings by clicking here.

COUGAR SWEEPSTAKES REGISTRATION
Houston Athletics fans are invited to register in the Cougar Sweepstakes presented by Mizzen+Main.

One fan who registers at uhcougars.com/mgolfsweepstakes will receive a free round to play with Dismuke at beautiful Bluejack National in Montgomery, Texas, as well as a $1,000 gift card from Mizzen+Main.

Fans are invited to submit their information on the registration page. The contest will end at 11:59 p.m., May 3, with the winner to be announced May 8.

UP NEXT
Following the American Athletic Conference Championships, Houston looks to compete in NCAA Regional play. The 2023 NCAA Regionals will be held at six sites across the nation on May 15-17: Auburn University Club (Auburn, Ala.); Eagle Eye (Bath, Michigan); Bear's Best Las Vegas (Las Vegas); The Institute Golf Club (Morgan Hill, Calif.); Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club (Norman, Okla.) and The Cliffs at Keowee Falls (Salem, S.C.).

The Top Five teams and the low individual not on a qualifying team at each NCAA Regional will advance to the NCAA Championships set for May 26-31 at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz.

The Cougars will learn their NCAA postseason fate during the NCAA Selection Show. That show will air at Noon, Wednesday, May 3, on Golf Channel.

SUPPORT HOUSTON RISE
Join Houston Rise, a $150 million fundraising campaign for Houston Athletics dedicated to championship success in the Big 12 Conference.

Every Houston Rise contribution prepares our Cougars to compete and win when we start Big 12 competition in July 2023. Click here to rise and be counted.

JOIN PROJECT 17
Fans are invited to join Project 17 to support Houston Men's Golf. Project members provide financial support directly to Houston Men's Golf for needs beyond the program's operating budget.

For information about Project 17 or to join, fans can click here.

STAY CONNECTED
Fans can receive updates by following @UHCougarMGolf on Twitter and catch up with the latest news and notes on the team by clicking LIKE on the team's Facebook page at UHCougarMGolf. Fans also can follow the team on Instagram at uhcougarmgolf.

– UHCougars.com –

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