Cats to Close Fall Slate in The Bahamas

MANHATTAN, Kan. – The Kansas State women's golf team will finish off its fall schedule in style by competing in the White Sands Invitational, Friday through Sunday, at the par-72, 6,415-yard Ocean Club Golf Course in Paradise Island, The Bahamas.

It will be the first time K-State has ever competed in this event, while it marks the second-straight year the Wildcats will compete outside the United States as they played in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico, last October.

"We are looking forward to playing this week," head coach Stew Burke said. "Competing at the Ocean Club is all the incentive we need. Our goal will remain the same – to stick to the plan, compete and aim to put three good rounds together."

K-State will send the lineup of senior Haley Vargas, junior Remington Isaac, freshmen Alenka Navarro and Julia Ballester Barrio in addition to sophomore Noa van Beek to The Bahamas. The Wildcats will be without its stroke average leader, Carla Bernat, who is competing for Team Spain in the World Amateur Team Championship in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Bernat holds a 70.89 stroke average in three events this year thanks to a victory at last month's Marilynn Smith Sunflower Invitational at Colbert Hills.

"This gives us the opportunity to really test the depth of our roster as we hope to continue the progress that we made throughout the fall season," Burke said.

Issac is making her second-straight appearance in the scoring lineup after placing second in the Marilynn Smith Sunflower Invitational while competing as an individual. She holds a 72.17 stroke average, just ahead of Navarro, a freshman from Mexico City who has been part of the scoring lineup in all four events this fall and has accumulated a 72.33 average.

Vargas holds a 74.44 stroke average after putting together a season-best showing in a tie for 33rd following a 5-over par 218 at the Mercedes-Benz Collegiate Championship two weeks ago. A senior from Lubbock, Texas, Vargas came back to K-State for a fifth year of eligibility on the heels of an individual appearance in the NCAA Championship last season.

Ballester Barrio returns to the scoring lineup as the Spaniard holds a 76.83 stroke average in two events this fall. van Beek is competing in her second event this season and first in the scoring lineup as she competed as individual in the Marilynn Smith Sunflower Invitational, tying for 24th place at 12-over par 228.

The Wildcats will be joined in The Bahamas by Charlotte, Delaware, Eastern Kentucky, Eastern Michigan, Grand Canyon, North Florida, host-school Santa Clara, Tampa, Troy and Tulane. The teams will begin the tournament with a shotgun start at 8 a.m. (ET) on Friday.

Live results of the White Sands Invitational can be followed at www.Golfstat.com.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Julia Ballester Barrio

Carla Bernat

Remington Isaac

Alenka Navarro

Noa van Beek

Haley Vargas

Kansas State University Athletics