ST. JOSEPH, Mo. --- The Minnesota State women's golf team finished fourth at the NCAA Central Region Championships and will now advance on to the NCAA Championships.

The NCAA Championships will be held at the PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., from May 12-16. The NCAA Championships will feature 18 teams in a 54-hole event. If the Mavericks finish in the top eight after three rounds, they will advance to match play to compete for an NCAA Championship.

The three-round NCAA Central Region Championships were held at the par-72 St. Joseph Country Club in St. Joseph, Mo. Minnesota State finished in fourth place with scores of 315-303-323--941 (+77). Southwestern Oklahoma State took first place in the team standings with scores of 317-303-306—926 (+62). Nebraska-Kearney (+64), Rogers State (+73) and Arkansas Tech (+78) also advanced to the NCAA Championships.

Southwestern Oklahoma State's Freya Sala took first in the individual standings with a scores of 76-71-74--221 (+5). Southeastern Oklahoma State's Carley Button (+6) and Henderson State's Lily Nelson (+7) will advance to the NCAA Championships as individuals.  

Junior Victoria Woytassek shot a 76 on the final day, which included a pair of birdies, to finish in 11th place at +15. Sophomore Emerson Garlie followed one stroke back in 20th as she shot an 83 to finish at +19.

Senior Samantha Youngquist posted an 82 to finish in 23r place at +20, while senior Ava Olson posted an 82 to finish the event in 33rd place at +23. Youngquist and Olson each recorded one birdie in their final rounds. Junior Emma Berge shot an 85 as well to finish in 6th place at +30.

11. Victoria Woytassek – 76-79-76--231 (+15)
20. Emerson Garlie – 79-73-83--235 (+19)
23. Samantha Youngquist – 79-75-82--236 (+20)
33. Ava Olson – 81-76-82--239 (+23)
65. Emma Berge – 81-80-85—246 (+30)

This will be Minnesota State's ninth trip to the NCAA Championships and first since the 2010 season where the Mavericks finished 11th. Minnesota State's best finish in the team standing came in 2000 when the Mavericks finished fifth. MSU's best individual finish also came in 2000 when Kasey Aanenson finished in a tie for 6th.