PALO ALTO, Calif. – St. Francis alumna Marissa Mar will tee off Thursday in the first round of the NCAA East Regional as part of the lineup for the fourth-ranked Stanford golf team. The Cardinal, making their 22nd consecutive postseason appearance, earned the bid by winning its first Pac-12 title since 1999.

“It was a lot of fun,” said Mar, who shot 74-72-74 to tie for 13th-place overall at the tournament played in Corvallis, Ore. “It was a great tournament. We were excited to win the championship but the most promising aspect was that we did not play out of our minds. We played steady and played our own games. We had a nice 67 to start off but after that everyone played really steady especially under the weather conditions.”

Mar recorded her best final round of the season in the decisive third round with a 74, punctuating the day with a birdie on the 18th hole.

“It has been four years I have been waiting for this title,” said Mar. “The feeling we got when we knew we had won absolutely was more than I could have imagined. Making a birdie on the last hole to help push the team forward was a phenomenal feeling.”

Stanford out-lasted a talented field to claim the Pac-12 title over second-place Arizona by a single stroke.

“Not many people get to win a Pac-12 title especially in this conference,” said Mar of Stanford’s second conference title. “I may be biased but I think it is the strongest conference in the nation. We have six teams ranked in the Top 11.”

Stanford will be among 24 teams at the NCAA East Regional, and one of 13 conference champions. The Cardinal will be joined by Duke, South Carolina, Vanderbilt, Pepperdine, UCF, Virginia, Auburn, North Carolina State, Florida State, Kentucky, Tulane, Louisville, Baylor, East Tennessee State, Georgia, Campbell, East Carolina, Texas State, College of Charleston, Troy, Murray State, Seton Hall and Alabama State.

“Hopefully we have seven rounds left but the most important one is the next one,” said Mar.

Eight teams and two individuals will advance from the East Regional field after the 54-hole event at the SouthWood Golf Club in Tallahassee, Fla.

“We can’t take our eye off of what is right in front of us – the first round of regionals – is our main goal and focus,” said Mar, who will tee off at 9:02 Thursday morning.

Mar is making her third career NCAA Regional appearance.

“It has been great,” said of her time at Stanford. “I could not imagine myself anywhere else. The facilities are amazing. We are lucky to have our home course right on campus. Not many teams have that. It is a classic course that never seems to get easier the more I play it. It is always a challenge and keeps me only toes. I am extremely lucky to be here.”

She will graduate in June with a degree in economics and has begun interviewing with tech firms in area hoping to stay in the Silicon Valley area.

“I am so thankful for the opportunities that have been presented here with this great institution,” said Mar. “It has prepared me for whatever I chose to do after I graduate.”

Mar, who hails from El Macero, Calif., graduated from St. Francis in 2010 after a standout two-sport career. She helped lead the Troubadours to four NorCal Championships and four state championship appearances. She was the Sacramento Bee Metro Player of the Year in 2008 and earned 2007 Delta River League MVP honors in 2007. She also earned all-league on the basketball team

“My favorite memory is probably winning four NorCal Championships in a row or the basketball sections against Oak Ridge my sophomore year at Arco Arena,” said Mar.

She says basketball actually helped her on the golf course.

“I learned a ton from the older girls and it actually helped my golf game as well,” recalled Mar. “It was a great change from golf and helped me to re-charge for golf.”

The NCAA Championships will be played May 20-23 at Tulsa Country Club in Tulsa, Okla.