Bellingham, Wash. – Firing a final-day 4-under-par 68, the University of Hawaii at Hilo’s Nick Mason finished in third place at the NCAA Division II West Regional at the Bellingham Golf and Country Club with a three-day five-under, 211.

His finish, as one of two best low scores of individuals not playing for a team advancing to the National Championship, qualifies the junior from Wahiawa for an automatic berth to the NCAA II National Tournament at Orlando, Fla., on May 12-15.

Cal State-Stanislaus’ Ryan Thornberry was the tournament’s individual champion, two strokes better at 7-under 209. The Division II’s top-ranked player, J.J. Jakovic of Chico State, finished in second place with a 6-under, 210.

As for the remaining Vulcans in the tournament, Kevin Shimomura was finished in a 20th place tie with a 5-over, 221. Garrett Okamura, a stroke behind, finished in 22nd place. Colin Gilliam ended in 27th place with an 8-over, 224 while Joe Saliba was tied for 40th place with a 18-over, 234.

Chico State ran away with the team title besting St. Martin’s College by 13 strokes. Chico State finished at 9-under 855. St. Martin’s was next at 3-over, 868 followed by Cal State-Stanislaus (7-over, 871), UC-San Diego (8-over, 872), Western Washington (10-over, 874), UH Hilo (11-over, 875), Cal State-Bakersfield (14-over, 878) and Grand Canyon University (56-over, 920).

Ten regional team champions across the country at the five super regionals earn automatic berths at the national. Eight at-large berths are also available ot teams finishing in the top five in their regional tournament.

The West earned three at-large berths last year, and six of the top 12 teams in this season’s NCAA II rankings are in that region.