Kansas State University Athletics
Friday, October 27
Paradise Island, The Bahamas
Kansas State University
vs
White Sands Invitational
Wildcats, Vargas Capture White Sands Invitational Title
Oct 29, 2023 | Women's Golf
PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas – Along with individual medalist honors by senior Haley Vargas, the Kansas State women's golf team pick up its first team victory under first-year head coach Stew Burke as the Wildcats held on during Sunday's final round to win the White Sands Invitational at the par-72, 6,415-yard Ocean Club Golf Course.
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K-State, which shot a 9-over par 297 in the final round, finished the event at 20-over par 884, seven shots ahead of second-place North Florida. It was the Wildcats' first team tournament title since winning the Marilynn Smith Sunflower Invitational in September 2019 and the first away from their home course since the Trinity Forest Invitational in October 2017.
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"This was a team effort this week, and I am delighted for the ladies capturing their first team title and for Haley individually," Burke said. "We had a target on our back all week, and I'm proud of how the ladies competed and blocked out the distractions. Winning is never easy and something we're going to learn together as we chase our season goals. Today wasn't perfect, but we proved to ourselves we can win."
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Vargas carded a 1-under par 71 on Sunday to finish two shots clear on the individual leaderboard with a 54-hole score of 1-over par 217. It was the first-career individual title for the Lubbock, Texas, native and second by a Wildcat this year after Carla Bernat won the Marilynn Smith Sunflower Invitational last month. It is the first time the Wildcats had multiple individual winners in a season since three victories in the fall of 2017.
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Vargas was one of four Wildcats to finish in the top 10 as she was joined by Julia Ballester Barrio, Alenka Navarro and Noa van Beek. Ballester Barrio and Navarro, both freshmen, each posted their best-career finishes in a tie for third place and a seventh-place finish, respectively. Ballast Barrio also recorded her lowest 54-hole score at 5-over par 221.
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van Beek finished in a tie for eighth place at 9-over par 225 as she carded her lowest round of the tournament on Sunday at 2-over par 74. Junior Remington Isaac finished in a tie for 34th place at 20-over par 236.
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"I look forward to a productive offseason where we can reset, analyze, and work hard to be ready for the spring season," Burke said.
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The victory put the finishing touches on K-State's fall slate. The Wildcats will be back in action February 4-6, at the Puerto Rico Classic held at the Grand Reserve GC in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico.
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K-State, which shot a 9-over par 297 in the final round, finished the event at 20-over par 884, seven shots ahead of second-place North Florida. It was the Wildcats' first team tournament title since winning the Marilynn Smith Sunflower Invitational in September 2019 and the first away from their home course since the Trinity Forest Invitational in October 2017.
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"This was a team effort this week, and I am delighted for the ladies capturing their first team title and for Haley individually," Burke said. "We had a target on our back all week, and I'm proud of how the ladies competed and blocked out the distractions. Winning is never easy and something we're going to learn together as we chase our season goals. Today wasn't perfect, but we proved to ourselves we can win."
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Vargas carded a 1-under par 71 on Sunday to finish two shots clear on the individual leaderboard with a 54-hole score of 1-over par 217. It was the first-career individual title for the Lubbock, Texas, native and second by a Wildcat this year after Carla Bernat won the Marilynn Smith Sunflower Invitational last month. It is the first time the Wildcats had multiple individual winners in a season since three victories in the fall of 2017.
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Vargas was one of four Wildcats to finish in the top 10 as she was joined by Julia Ballester Barrio, Alenka Navarro and Noa van Beek. Ballester Barrio and Navarro, both freshmen, each posted their best-career finishes in a tie for third place and a seventh-place finish, respectively. Ballast Barrio also recorded her lowest 54-hole score at 5-over par 221.
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van Beek finished in a tie for eighth place at 9-over par 225 as she carded her lowest round of the tournament on Sunday at 2-over par 74. Junior Remington Isaac finished in a tie for 34th place at 20-over par 236.
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"I look forward to a productive offseason where we can reset, analyze, and work hard to be ready for the spring season," Burke said.
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The victory put the finishing touches on K-State's fall slate. The Wildcats will be back in action February 4-6, at the Puerto Rico Classic held at the Grand Reserve GC in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Golf
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/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
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