If teams were seeded according to Golfstat.com rankings, Kansas University’s women’s golfers would enter this week’s NCAA championships 21st in a 24-team field.

“It’s a little different when you are under the radar,” KU coach Erin O’Neil said.

The Jayhawks, who improved five spots the final day at the Central Regional to place fifth of 24 teams, were one of eight teams to survive Stillwater, Oklahoma’s Karsten Creek Golf Club and advance to the NCAA finals, which run today through Friday at Tulsa Country Club.

O’Neil’s Jayhawks enter calm, cool and collected while embracing their status as underdogs.

“Why not?” O’Neil said of her five players believing they have a shot at the team title. “Our plan the whole year has been to do our best each day and see where the chips fall. So that’s our plan now. We will focus on doing our best and see where we land.

“This is a good chance for us to see how we stack up against the best. We beat some really good teams (at regional). I think that’s a great confidence-builder going into nationals and show everybody what we can do, continue doing that.”

KU’s entrants are: freshman Pornvipa “Faii” Sakdee, sophomore Yupaporn “Mook” Kawinpakorn, junior Minami Levonowich and seniors Thanuttra “Fhong” Boonraksasat and Meghan Potee.

Kawinpakorn enters with a 74.4 stroke average. She’s on track to break her own KU single-season record of 74.8 set her freshman season. A 2014 All-Big 12 selection, Kawinpakorn has 10 rounds of even par or better and has carded three 69s in her last two tournaments (two at the Big 12 meet and one at the NCAA Central Regional).

“Mook can win it. Mook has a shot at winning it,” O’Neil said. “If she can stick to her game plan and keep her head in a good spot, she certainly has the game and ability to do it.”

Eight teams in the field are ranked in Golfstat’s top 10. The field consists of No. 1 USC, No. 2 UCLA, No. 3 Duke, No. 4 Arizona State, No. 5 Washington, No. 7 Oklahoma, No. 8 Vanderbilt, No. 10 Alabama, No. 11 Arizona, No. 12 Stanford, No. 15 Northwestern, No. 17 North Carolina State, No. 18 Virginia, No. 20 Michigan State, No. 21 Florida, No. 22 Ohio State, No. 24 Iowa State, No. 25 California, No. 27 Mississippi State, No. 29 KU, No. 30 Texas A&M, No. 31 Tulane and No. 45 Campbell.

Vanderbilt, South Carolina and Duke were the top three finishers in the East regional; UCLA, Alabama and Mississippi State in the Central Regional; and USC, Washington and Arizona State in the West Regional.

“The top teams will be UCLA, Alabama, probably Southern Cal,” said O’Neil, whose Jayhawks are in nationals for the second time in school history. The Jayhawks also advanced in 1990. “It’s nationals. Every team is tough. I think it will be a great opportunity to compare ourselves and learn and make us that much better for next year.”

Following practice rounds Sunday and Monday, KU will play its first two (of four) rounds with Virginia and Iowa State. The three teams will open on hole No. 1 at 8:36 a.m. today and on hole 10 at 12:56 p.m. Wednesday. The pairings and tee times for the final two rounds will be determined by the first two rounds’ results. Tulsa Country Club, par 70, measures 6,194 yards.