Stillwater, Okla. ? Kansas University’s women’s golf team improved five spots in the team standings on the final day of the NCAA Central Regional on Saturday and qualified for the NCAAs for just the second time in school history.

The Jayhawks tied for fifth at the regional.

“Going to nationals is a tremendous accomplishment,” Kansas coach Erin O’Neil said. “It’s a goal we have been working toward for a while. It’s nice to see the hard work pay off, and it only motivates us to see how much higher we can rise in the future.”

Junior Minami Levonowich shot a 1-over-par 73 Saturday and led the Jayhawks with a 19th-place tie. Levonowich shot a three-round 222.

Sophomore Yupaporn Kawinpakorn struggled with a final-round 80 Saturday. She dropped from a seventh-place tie Friday to a tie for 24th Saturday at 224.

Thanuttra Boonraksasat tied for 45th at 229, Pornvipa Sakdee tied for 51st at 231, and Meghan Potee tied for 66th at 233.

The 40th-ranked Jayhawks shot a team 899 in the 24-team field to place behind regional champ UCLA (875), Alabama (892), Mississippi State (893) and California (394). Kansas tied Ohio State for fifth.

The top eight teams and two individuals not on those teams qualified for NCAAs.

Kansas last qualified for the NCAA Championship in 1990, when it was an automatic qualifier after winning the Big Eight title.

“The team played with a lot of heart,” O’Neil said. “Our seniors (Boonraksasat and Potee) stepped up and really played a solid round in tough conditions today. Minami finished strong as well and played her last four holes 2-under par.”

Kent State’s Wad Phaewchimplee won the individual regional title at 209.

The NCAA Tournament will run May 20-23 at the Tulsa (Okla.) Country Club.