Posted by Press Democrat Staff Writer Michael Coit:

Playing better than expected, the Sonoma State women’s golf team for the first time in school history qualified for the NCAA Division II Women’s Golf Championships after finishing third in a super regional Tuesday in Texas.

Tarleton State took the team title with a total score of 922 in the 54-hole Super Region 4 Golf Championship at Tascosa Country Club in Amarillo. Cal State Monterey Bay was second with a 952. Just two strokes behind was Sonoma State with a 954.

Those top three teams advance to the national championship tournament May 12-15 at Longbow Golf Course in Mesa, Ariz.

A year ago, Sonoma State’s season ended at the NCAA Division II West Regional.

Tied for second after Sunday’s first round, the Seawolves were then tied for third going into Tuesday’s final round. Sonoma State held off host West Texas A&M by two strokes to hold onto the final qualifying spot.

Led again by Spencer Heller, who shot a 74-80-74 — 228 for a second place tie, Sonoma State finished better than the team’s fifth place seed to open the tournament. Also on the board for Sonoma State were Tess Russell, whose 78-84-76 — 238 placed her 13th, Brittany Carrera (82-79-80 — 241), Chelsa Helget-Robinson (81-83-86 — 250) and Tara Mortimeyer (81-82-87 — 250).