The CSU-Monterey Bay men’s golf squad will head into the NCAA Division II national championship with some steam behind them.

On Wednesday, the No.6 ranked Otters won this week’s NCAA D-II Western/South Central Regional at par-72 The Home Course in Dupont, Wash., shooting a final round 1-over 289 to knock off runner-up Western Washington by a stroke. CSUMB, which won its Regional in 2011 en route to capturing its first national title, finished the three-day event at 10-under 854. Western Washington came in at 855, with Grand Canyon taking third at 856.

“The guys did exactly what they were supposed to do. They went out and played a solid round of golf,” CSUMB head coach Jason Owen said.

With just three holes left, the Otters had fallen into third place. A birdie by junior Dylan Jackson on the 16^th and two closing pars helped put CSUMB back on top “I checked with Dylan and asked if he’d birdied the 16^th and he told me ‘yes’,” Owen said. “Then I asked him if he was good to go and he said, ’Yep’ and that was the end of it.”

In their 2011 national title victory, Jackson sank a crucial 30-foot putt on the 18^th that helped the Otters win.

Jackson, who shot a final round 70, finished tied for ninth at 3-under 213. Senior Alex Sobstad led the Otters, finishing T-3 (210) after a 72.

Brandon Hortt finished T-25 at 217, Anton Rosen was T-31 at 218 and Palma product Matt Ogden finished T-61 at 222.

The NCAA D-II championship will be held May 20-24 at Hershey CC in Hershey, Pa.

Getting a chance to play in next month’s U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club.

That was the goal as local qualifying for the championship, to be held June 10-16 in Ardmore, Penn., began in earnest this week.

At the nearest local qualifier held Wednesday at par-72 Half Moon Bay Golf Course, a number of locals took their shots yet no one advanced.

Stevenson junior Seb Crampton came up four shots shy of getting into a playoff after carding a 75. Crampton’s Pirates teammates Michael Decker and Drew Nelson, meanwhile, had a pair of 76s. Former Pacific Grove standout Michael Wilson also shot 76, as did Monterey’s Jason Gilbert.

Having experienced the pressure of it all last year, Crampton knew that it would take a special day to advance.

“It’s always a challenge,” Crampton said. “You can’t expect too much.”

Last year, Crampton’s wild ride began when he first earned an alternate spot after carding a 71 in a local qualifier at Pasatiempo GC. After playing a bit of a waiting game, he’d eventually get into the sectional qualifier at Lake Merced GC and TPC Harding Park. Then only 16, Crampton would turn heads by opening with a 6-under 66. A second round 73 would however leave him just a stroke short of qualifying for the U.S. Open at The Olympic Club.

Among local prep players, Crampton’s so close but so far away run has only fueled the thoughts of getting a chance to play in the people’s championship.

“It’s just a cool opportunity,” Nelson said. “I mean, it’d be playing in the U.S. Open.”

Those getting through the Half Moon Bay qualifier were medalist Joshua Granger of Monrovia (70) and four others including San Francisco amateur great Randy Haag (71) and Santa Cruz resident Cory McElyea (71).

To be able to enter a local qualifier, players must have at least a 1.5 handicap index.

On Monday, Carmel senior Evan McLeod will meet his brother Kraig as they take their chances in a local qualifier at Genoa Lakes GC just south of Reno. McLeod opted to play there because he had to compete in the Central Coast Section Regional on Wednesday.

“Just getting the chance is awesome,” McLeod said. “Seb got so close last year. It’d be amazing to get into the Open.”

Monterey Peninsula Foundation CEO Steve John isn’t the only one already looking ahead to this year’s Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach.

So too are the players.

While the Champions Tour event is still a ways off–Sept. 27-29 at Pebble Beach Golf Links and Del Monte GC–a slew of pros have already committed including Olin Browne, John Cook, Fred Funk, three-time winner Jeff Sluman, defending champ Kirk Triplett and local favorite Bobby Clampett. Players expected to still join the field include Rocco Mediate, Tom Lehman, Steve Elkington and Colin Montgomerie. Vijay Singh, who’ll be eligible and was cleared by the PGA Tour of any doping charges on Tuesday, could also be in the mix.

“We’ve never had a commitment list like this so early,” John said.

While it’s hard for anyone to pass up playing at Pebble Beach, a huge factor in the player surge has been the event’s date change. The last two years, the tournament, which features Champions Tour members playing side by side with juniors from The First Tee, has been held Fourth of July week. Prior to that, it was played over Labor Day weekend.

Along with potential better weather, the date change fits better into players’ schedules. This year, they’ll compete in the newly formed Pacific Links Hawaii Championship before heading to Pebble. In 2012, the First Tee Open was sandwiched between the Senior Players Championship in Pennsylvania and the U.S. Senior Open in Michigan, leaving players crisscrossing the country.

“I’m sure we lost a few players due to that,” John said.

The two majors and The First Tee Open were also all events where players cannot use a cart.

“I think following Hawaii is going to be great,” John said. “It’s a huge benefit for the juniors playing as well. You want them to play with a great player, so we’re ensuring a better experience.”

Along with celebrating its 10^th anniversary, this year’s First Tee Open could also see some new partnerships with the San Francisco Giants and San Jose Sharks.

“There’ll be more pre-tourney build up, and we’ll be doing a lot of things commemorating the event’s 10^th year,” John said.

Of course, the biggest benefactors of it all are The First Tee kids.

“People realize what they’re doing for The First Tee youth by participating,” John said. “Bottom line, it’s all about the kids.”