CHAMPIONSHIP CENTRAL

PALM COAST, Fla. - The 2019 American Athletic Conference Women's Golf Championship teed off on Sunday at the Conservatory Course at Hammock Beach Resort. Houston took hold of the day one lead with a 1-under, 287 team mark which tied for the fourth-lowest single round mark in tournament history. It is also just the second sub-290 first round all-time in championship play.

The Cougars hold a seven-stroke lead over the field after one round. Several teams are within striking distance as UCF (294), USF (295) and ECU (296) are all less than nine strokes away from the lead. The No. 2 to No. 10 spots in the standings are separated by just 11 strokes.

Houston also boasts the individual lead as senior Leonie Harm carded a 3-under 69. It is just the sixth sub-70 round in three championship seasons at Hammock Beach's Conservatory Course. Harm and UCF's Elizabeth Moon played began competition play together and battled each other all morning.

The duo were two of five players to post scores of multiple strokes under par. Cincinnati's Daniela Murcia, Houston's Maria Jose Martinez and USF's Natalie Villavicencio are all just one stroke off the lead.

The tight field continues down the player leaderboard with 12 players just one stroke above par or better.

While Houston had two of the top scorers of the day, USF and ECU checked in with two players in the top eight of their leaderboard. Their performances held the Bulls and Pirates to third and fourth after day one, respectively.

The Knights secured second with three players in the top-13.

SMU (298), Cincinnati (299), Tulsa (301), Wichita State (302), Memphis (304) and Tulane (305) round out a crowded team leaderboard from 5-10.

Day two action in Palm Coast, Fla., starts tomorrow at 8 a.m. ET.