ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla.—The Jax State women's golf team might be saving its best for last.
 
During Monday's first round of the Conference USA Championship at the World Golf Village, the team put together their lowest score of the season at a one-under par 287 to top the leaderboard after 18 holes of play. The score is also the lowest under coach Robbie Fields in his three years with the program.
 
"Obviously, a fantastic start," said Fields. "We've seen all year this team was capable of accomplishing this and playing this way, so it was nice to see them put it all together in one round."
 
The Gamecocks have a one-shot lead over Florida International, and a three-shot lead over New Mexico State for third. Those three teams all played together in the second wave of the day.
 
Freshman Lara El Chaib is one of three players leading the field after a three-under 69 to begin play. She started her day with a birdie on the first hole, and nearly aced the 161-yard 13^th hole, landing her 7-iron just short of the hole.
 
"I was hitting a lot of greens and getting close to the pin to give myself an opportunity to make birdie," said El Chaib. "When I missed the green, I got up and down most of the time which helped me stay composed."
 
El Chaib was bogey free until the 17^th hole when her tee shot found a fairway bunker on the left side and had to lay up on her approach shot.
 
Freshman Rebekka Stutley shot a 71 and sits in sixth place, answering a bogey on the Par 3 seventh with birdies on 12, 14, and 16 before a bogey on 17.
 
Senior Paula Perez Cubinas in ninth in the field after an even-par 72, posting one-under on the front nine, thanks to a birdie on nine. Rachel Camp is 22^nd, shooting a 75 to start the tournament. The sophomore posted three birdies on the front nine.
 
Ebby Somers rounds out the lineup in 33^rd with a 78.
 
"This isn't somewhere we've been much," said Fields of being at the top of the leaderboard. "We have to do a better job than we did at the Chris Banister Classic, there's a lot more riding on this," said Fields. "There's nothing we can do tomorrow that wins the golf tournament; it can help, but it doesn't automatically win it."
 
The team will be last off the tee for Tuesday's second round which begins at 6:30 a.m. Central time.