Emma de Groot had a sense of numbness after she completed her final round Saturday at the NCAA women’s golf East Regional.

Heading into the day, she had an outside shot at advancing to the NCAA Championship in Albuquerque, N.M. But the end of the day brought the end of her freshman season at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

“I really don’t know how to feel,” de Groot said. “It was good fun and we had a good time. I played good golf, but it wasn’t my day today.”

The Southern Conference freshman of the year shot a 2-over-par 74 at the University of Georgia course Saturday and tied for 18th at 7 over.

Eight teams from the regional are headed to the NCAA championships, paced by Florida, which shot 19 over. Furman from the SoCon earned the eighth spot.

De Groot participated as an individual and needed to finish in the top two among players who weren’t advancing with their teams. UNC-Wilmington’s Carmen Perez earned the first individual spot with a 1-under tournament, and New Mexico’s Alexandra Phelps earned the other spot at 1 over.

De Groot had three bogeys and a birdie in her final round.

“She absolutely had no luck today at all,” UTC coach Colette Murray said. “I’m serious — she lipped out eight times, and two times it stayed above the hole.

“It was so close to being a 65 that it wasn’t even funny.”

The NCAA regional closes out a historic season. There was no Lady Mocs golf for 24 years before the 2007-08 school year.

The lessons de Groot learned may be passed along to her teammates so they may enjoy the splendor of an NCAA regional as well.

“I can play with these players,” de Groot said. “I can match up with any of them on any day. It was good to play at that next level and see what the top teams do so you know what you have to do.”

De Groot will return to her native Australia later this month with the intentions of improving her short game and mental approach.

“This year is only going to make me better, and this experience is only going to make me better,” de Groot said. “I’ll have to take the good with the bad.”