A UTRGV freshman golfer is heading to the NCAA National Tournament in California.

Jorge Martin Sampedro qualified after finishing as the top performer at the regional tournament among golfers who were not already on a qualifying team. That makes him UTRGV's first NCAA Division I National Tournament qualifier since 1978.

He is one of six individual qualifiers in the country at this point in the season.

"It's amazing I'm going to try and do my best for all of them and try to put UTRGV in a good spot," Sampedro said. "The nerves are going to be there but try to play as good as I can and use those nerves as a motivation to do better."

Sampedro grew up in Spain, where his older sister introduced him to golf. She now competes as a junior golfer at Stanford, making history and winning championships.

"Yeah I talk to her a lot, she's playing the national championship," Sampedro said. "She's shared with me some tips so that's going to help me a lot and she's my role model in golf and as a person also so it's a pleasure for me to learn from her."

Sampedro credits much of his success to the UTRGV program.

"This program is growing a lot this past year," Sampedro said. "This facility that these two years ago is really good, we have all the facilities to grow as a player and as a person here."

UTRGV Director of Golf Houston Moore said the accomplishment means a great deal to everyone involved.

"Everything that we've done the last four years it just makes it that much sweeter, all that hard work that everyone's put in," Moore said. "It lets them know that it was worth it."

Moore also said Sampedro's mindset sets him apart heading into the national stage.

"It's another event, another opportunity to compete," Moore said. "This guys mind is his greatest strength and I think he knows that already leading up to it so I don't think he's going to change anything."

Sampedro said he believes his mental game will be a key advantage at the tournament.

"My greatest strength will be my mental game I think as a freshman I'm doing a really good job there and my parting is also really good so that's one of the most important things," Sampedro said.