Dade City, Fla. -- Senior Jason Harris and sophomore Robin Smith each posted three-over par 75's and currently sit in a tie for 15th after the first round of the 2004 Conference USA Men's Golf Championship. The tournament is being played at the par-72, 7,153-yard Lake Jovita Golf and Country Club in Dade City, Florida.

Both Harris (40-35=75) and Smith (37-38=75) sit seven strokes behind leader Adam Meyer (36-32=68). Meyer's teammate from TCU, Colby Beckstrom, is in second place after posting a three-under par 69.

Two players are tied for third place with even scores of 72. Scott McNeil of Charlotte, who tied with Beckstrom for the lowest score on the front nine (34), is deadlocked with Justin Elliott of Southern Miss, whose 35 tied several others for the second lowest total on the back nine.

Five golfers finished the day with a one-over par total of 73: Zach Mowbray of Houston, Alan Weant of Memphis, Brent Holmes of Louisville, Brad Quiri of USF and Schultz of TCU.

Ray Sheedy of Charlotte and Adam Howell of East Carolina produced the only Eagles on the day, both on par threes at No. 2 and No. 9.

The 534-yard, par five on No. 9 proved to be the hardest hole to play on the day, with an average score of 5.14. The lowest average hole was the shortest hole on the course, the 146-yard, par three No. 14 where the average score was a 3.21.

Two-time defending champion TCU has jumped out to an 11-stroke lead after shooting a two-under total of 286 on the opening day of the three-day tournament. Houston leads a group of four teams that are bunched up behind TCU. The Cougars are nine-over at 297, one stroke ahead of Southern Miss, who shot a 10-over 298. UAB sits in fourth place at 300, 12 strokes above par. Charlotte is one shot behind, after firing a 13-over total of 301.

The Pirates (62-78-5) are tied with USF for seventh place after posting a first round score of 305 and sit shots out of third place.

The teams play 18 holes on Tuesday before a final round on Wednesday. Tee times both days start at 7:45 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time.

Top Pirate Finishes
T15. Robin Smith 37-38=75
T15. Jason Harris 40-35=75
T30. Ryan Leveque 39-38=77
T41. Calle Andren 40-38=78
T41. Adam Howell 40-38=78

Top Individual Finishes
1. Adam Meyer (TCU) 36-32=68
2. Colby Beckstrom (TCU) 34-35=69
T3. Justin Elliot (S. Miss) 37-35=72
T3. Scott McNeil (Charlotte) 34-38=72
T5. Five Players sit at 75

Top Team Finishes
1. TCU 286
2. Houston 297
3. Southern Miss 298
4. UAB 300
5. Charlotte 301