STOCKTON -- Cal State LA's Morgan Sjoerdsma completed an outstanding and historic season on Wednesday in the final round of the NCAA Division II West Regional.

Sjoerdsma, who became the first player in program history to advance to NCAA competition, shot a 1-over-par 73 on Wednesday to finish in a tie for 12th overall with a 54-hole total of even-par 216 at the Brookside Country Club. Sjoerdsma, one of six individuals to qualify with 12 teams to the 66-player regional championship, finished just two shots out of a spot for the national championships. The top five teams - Dallas Baptist, Colorado Christian, Texas A&M International, Texas A&M Commerce and West Texas A&M  - along with the top two individuals not on those teams - Drishti Karambaya of Cal State East Bay and Anahi Servin of Academy of Art - will represent the West at the national championships later this month. Servin, who earned the second and final spot, finished at 2-under-par for the tournament after a final round of 2-under 70.

"Morgan played like a champion this week. She was so solid and played well enough to win," Cal State LA head coach Hans Kersting said. "Had a couple of putts fallen for her, she'd be on her way to nationals. I realize she is frustrated, but this will propel her to greater heights moving forward. She can compete with the best golfers in the country. Cal State LA is fortunate to call her our own. She's a special student-athlete."

Sjoerdsma, the California Collegiate Athletic Association individual champion, was in prime position to earn a spot to nationals for most of the day. She started the day in a tie for fifth at 1-under-par and got to 2-under-par after a birdie on the par-5 seventh hole.

She then hit a bit of difficulty, though, with four bogeys over a seven-hole stretch that put her at 3-over-par for the day and 2-over-par for the tournament.

Sjoerdsma, though, showing the remarkable resiliency that has carried her to so many great rounds this spring, finished like a champion, recording birdies on the par-5 16th and par-5 18th holes to end the tournament at even-par. Also impressive in her final stretch was a par on the difficult par-3 17th hole, a hole that had given her fits in the opening two rounds. She had a double-bogey there in the opening round on Monday and a bogey at that hole on Tuesday.

Sjoerdsma was one of only 13 players in the 66-player field to shoot even par or better for the tournament.

Sjoerdsma's rounds of 72-71-73 were all better than the rounds of 74-75 she shot early in the spring in the Visit Stockton Invitational on the same course.

The regional championships were an outstanding end to a record-setting season for Cal State LA's women's golf program. Sjoerdsma became the program's first-ever conference champion and first-ever regional qualifier and she and teammate Marie Dean were the first two Cal State LA golfers to earn CCAA All-Tournament honors for finishing in the top five. In addition, Sjoerdsma, Dean, Pratima Sherpa, Caitlyn Jimenez and Emily Wang led the Golden Eagles to a second-place team finish in the CCAA Tournament, not only the best-ever team finish, but the first time the young program finished ahead of CCAA counterparts.

Sjoerdsma also claimed the conference's Elite 13 award for academic excellence at the CCAA championships.

All in all, Cal State LA's women's golf team certainly made the 2021-22 season all about emerging on the national scene for the first time.