LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The New Mexico State Aggies are headed to Alabama to start competition in the 2016 NCAA Women's Golf Championship.
 
The three-time defending Western Athletic Conference Champion Aggies drew a No. 15 seed in the 18-team Shoal Creek Regional at the Shoal Creek Country Club in Shoal Creek, Ala., just southeast of Birmingham, May 5-7.
 
It's the Aggies third straight NCAA Tournament appearance and the program's 20th NCAA bid.
 
"We are so excited about drawing the Shoal Creek Regional," said NM State head coach Jackie Booth. "We've never been there and we have no expectations about the course. I think that may be the best part."
 
The Aggies were enroute back to Las Cruces from winning their third WAC Championship when the NCAA selection was made.
 
"We watched it on an i-pad on the airplane," said Booth. "There wasn't much yelling, but it was great to get the draw and see it live."
 
The Shoal Creek Regional the Aggies will compete in is loaded, led by regional top seed and Golfstat No. 1 Alabama, the host of the regional. Also in the lineup are No. 8 Northwestern, No. 9 Oklahoma State, No. 16 California, No. 17 Iowa State, No. 22 Florida State and No. 25 Tennessee.
 
The Aggies are among the next eight teams ranked in the top 80, with No. 32 Missouri, No. 36 Purdue, No. 40 Notre Dame, No. 41 Vanderbilt, No. 47 Clemson, No. 50 Michigan, No. 53 Middle Tennessee, and No. 77 NM State. Eastern Kentucky, Oakland (Mich.) and Alabama State round out the regional field.
 
Also, six individuals were selected to compete for a chance to advance to the national tournament. Yupaporn Kawinpakorn of Kansas is the top individual, with Fatima Cano of Troy, Emily McLennan of Tennessee-Chattanooga, Sathika Ruenreong of Toledo, Laura Fuenfstueck of College of Charleston and Pornvipa Sakdeee of Kansas chosen to play.
 
"We will meet up with several teams faced this year," said Aggie assistant Danny Bowen. "I really believe that it could be to our advantage."
 
The Shoal Creek Regional is one of four regional sites in the 2016 NCAA Women's Tournament. Other regionals are The Baton Rouge Regional at the University Club in Baton Rouge, La., The Bryan Regional at the Traditions Club in Bryan, Texas, and the Stanford Regional at the Stanford Golf Course in Stanford, Calif.
 
The top six teams and top three individuals not part of those teams from each of the four regionals will advance to play in the NCAA Championship at the Eugene Country Club in Eugene, Ore., May 20-25.