
K-State, Bernat Capture Powercat Invitational Titles
Sep 10, 2024 | Women's Golf
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Led by individual winner Carla Bernat, the Kansas State women's golf team earned a wire-to-wire victory at the Powercat Invitational with a strong showing during Tuesday's final round at the par-72, 6,439-yard Colbert Hills Golf Course.
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The Wildcats fired a final-round score of 9-under par 279 – the fourth-lowest team round in school history – as their winning total of 4-under par 860 was 20 shots better than second-place North Texas and represented the sixth-lowest 54-hole score in school history.
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It was the 18th team championship in program history and second under second-year head coach Stew Burke after winning last year's White Sands Invitational. Additionally, it was the first home victory by K-State since the Marilynn Smith Sunflower Invitational in September 2019.
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The Wildcats ran away from the field thanks to four members of the scoring lineup earning top-10 finishes in Bernat, freshman Nanami Nakashima, sophomore Alenka Navarro and senior transfer Sophie Bert.
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"The ladies did an excellent job closing out the event," Burke said. "This week was a total team effort. I'm really impressed by our newcomers, especially Nanami with her runner-up finish and Sophie with her top-10 showing. Our final round speaks volumes for the team's desire to improve, learn and win. Carla continues to excel and came up with a big final round to pull away from the field. It's the start we were looking for and gives us the momentum moving into our practice for Schooner Fall Classic."
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Bernat earned her third victory as a Wildcat to sit alone in third place in program history. With a final-round score of 5-under par 67 – tied for the 11th-lowest individual round in school history – Bernat earned a seven-shot victory at 8-under par 208. It was her seventh 54-hole score of 209 or better in her 11 three-round events as a Wildcat, and her score of 208 in the Powercat Invitational was tied for the fifth-lowest in school history.
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A native of Castellon, Spain, Bernat went bogey-free on the day, which included a 4-under par showing over the first nine holes.
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Nakashima finished in second place at 1-under par 215 following a round of 4-over par 75 on Tuesday.
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Navarro climbed seven spots on the leaderboard in the final round thanks to a score of 2-under par 70. Bert also shot 2-under par 70 over the final 18 holes to rise 12 spots on the leaderboard to a tie for seventh place at 5-over par 221.
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Playing as an individual, Julia Ballester Barrio tied for 15th place at 7-over par 223, two shots ahead of Noa van Beek, who tied for 20th place at 9-over par 225 after a final-round total of even-par 72. Freshman Natalia Fiel Ros, who also competed as an individual, tied for 25th place at 14-over par 230.
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Next action for the Wildcats is September 21-23 when they compete in the Schooner Fall Classic held at Belmar Golf Club in Norman, Oklahoma.
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The Wildcats fired a final-round score of 9-under par 279 – the fourth-lowest team round in school history – as their winning total of 4-under par 860 was 20 shots better than second-place North Texas and represented the sixth-lowest 54-hole score in school history.
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It was the 18th team championship in program history and second under second-year head coach Stew Burke after winning last year's White Sands Invitational. Additionally, it was the first home victory by K-State since the Marilynn Smith Sunflower Invitational in September 2019.
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The Wildcats ran away from the field thanks to four members of the scoring lineup earning top-10 finishes in Bernat, freshman Nanami Nakashima, sophomore Alenka Navarro and senior transfer Sophie Bert.
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"The ladies did an excellent job closing out the event," Burke said. "This week was a total team effort. I'm really impressed by our newcomers, especially Nanami with her runner-up finish and Sophie with her top-10 showing. Our final round speaks volumes for the team's desire to improve, learn and win. Carla continues to excel and came up with a big final round to pull away from the field. It's the start we were looking for and gives us the momentum moving into our practice for Schooner Fall Classic."
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Bernat earned her third victory as a Wildcat to sit alone in third place in program history. With a final-round score of 5-under par 67 – tied for the 11th-lowest individual round in school history – Bernat earned a seven-shot victory at 8-under par 208. It was her seventh 54-hole score of 209 or better in her 11 three-round events as a Wildcat, and her score of 208 in the Powercat Invitational was tied for the fifth-lowest in school history.
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A native of Castellon, Spain, Bernat went bogey-free on the day, which included a 4-under par showing over the first nine holes.
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Nakashima finished in second place at 1-under par 215 following a round of 4-over par 75 on Tuesday.
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Navarro climbed seven spots on the leaderboard in the final round thanks to a score of 2-under par 70. Bert also shot 2-under par 70 over the final 18 holes to rise 12 spots on the leaderboard to a tie for seventh place at 5-over par 221.
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Playing as an individual, Julia Ballester Barrio tied for 15th place at 7-over par 223, two shots ahead of Noa van Beek, who tied for 20th place at 9-over par 225 after a final-round total of even-par 72. Freshman Natalia Fiel Ros, who also competed as an individual, tied for 25th place at 14-over par 230.
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Next action for the Wildcats is September 21-23 when they compete in the Schooner Fall Classic held at Belmar Golf Club in Norman, Oklahoma.
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– k-statesports.com –
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How to follow the Cats: For complete information on K-State Women's Golf, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.
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How to follow the Cats: For complete information on K-State Women's Golf, visit www.kstatesports.com and follow the team's social media channels on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.
Players Mentioned
Friday, October 02
Tuesday, September 29
Tuesday, September 29
Thursday, September 17









