As she drove to the University of Michigan Golf Course on Monday afternoon, senior women’s golfer Ashley Bauer wasn’t positive where her golf career stood.

She finished second in the Big Ten championships last weekend, including a Big Ten record 65 in the second round. Her team, though, failed to qualify for the NCAA regionals so she had to wait to see if she’d receive an at-large selection as an individual player.

Before she reached the course, her coach had texted her. Bauer was in.

“This weekend I think helped secure a lot of things,” Bauer said Monday afternoon. “I played the best I could this weekend and if I didn’t get a bid after this weekend, then it was meant to be. So unfortunately it’s going to be hard with the team not there, playing for Michigan without the team is going to be different.

“So, there was definitely relief to see continuing on for another couple of weeks and giving me a shot at nationals or whatever happens, I guess.”

Bauer was one of three individual players selected for the Central Regional, joining Missouri’s Julia Potter and Drake’s Olivia Lansing. Besides those three players, 21 teams will be competing at Ottercreek Golf Course in Columbus, Ind.

From that pool, the top eight teams and top two individuals not playing for a team qualifying for the finals advance to the NCAA championship from May 18-21 at the Country Club of Landfall in Wilmington, N.C.

This will be Bauer’s third trip to the NCAA golf regionals, although it is her first as an individual. Michigan qualified as a team during her freshman year in 2007 and last season.

This time, though, will be a little bit different. The 65 she shot this weekend is the best round of her career. It set a Michigan record by three strokes and tied the course record at University Ridge in Madison, Wis. - the first course record Bauer has held.

“Definitely the best I felt because putts were dropping. I think I’ve hit the ball similar to that but putts were dropping that round,” Bauer said. “I missed a couple but I made some, too, so it evens out but there were opportunities there, too, for a stroke or two less. But it was a lot of fun, though.

“Putts were dropping. It was good.”

It also helped set up the continuation of her season.

Walking up the final hole on Sunday at University Ridge, though, still wasn’t easy. She knew she had lost the Big Ten title and her future was somewhat in doubt.

But she’ll continue playing and it leaves her with a hectic week. She’ll hand in her final college paper Wednesday. Then she graduates Saturday. And all the while has to keep playing golf to prepare for the NCAAs.

It is, though, better than the alternative.

“I’d definitely rather be playing,” Bauer said. “That’s what I’m here for, the postseason and hopefully making things happen at the end of the season.”

Michael Rothstein covers University of Michigan sports for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at (734) 623-2558, by e-mail at michaelrothstein@annarbor.com or follow along on Twitter @mikerothstein.