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Westbrook Invitational

Julia Ballester Barrio 2024-25

K-State Back in Action at Westbrook Invitational

Feb 21, 2025 | Women's Golf

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Coming off nearly three weeks' worth of practice after its initial spring event, the Kansas State women's golf team begins a three-week stretch of competition with the Westbrook Invitational, Sunday and Monday, at the par-72, 6,248-yard Westbrook Village Golf Club in Peoria, Arizona.
 
It is the first of two-straight events in Arizona as the Wildcats will co-host the MountainView Collegiate, March 2-4, before finishing out this range of events at the Yale Invitational West, March 10-11.
 
This is the third-straight season and 12th time overall that K-State will play in the Westbrook Invitational, which has been contested since 2012. The Wildcats finished fourth out of 14 teams a year ago, and they won the 2017 event at 3-under par 861. 
 
"We are really looking forward to playing in the Westbrook Invitational," head coach Stew Burke said. "It is truly one of our favorite events that we play in each year. The golf course will present an opportunity for the team to go low and make a lot of birdies. However, it is very important that we stay patient and stick to our game plan as 54 holes is a marathon and not a sprint. We have had some challenges keeping the practices creative and productive while inside, but the ladies have adapted well to the situation, as usual, and are ready for a great week in the desert."
 
Kansas State will send six members to compete in Arizona with seniors Carla Bernat and Sophie Bert, freshman Nanami Nakashima, junior Noa van Beek and sophomore Julia Ballester Barrio making up the scoring lineup. In addition, sophomore Alenka Navarro will compete as an individual.
 
The 14-team field at Westbrook Village Golf Club includes four teams ranked in the top 50 of the National Collegiate Golf Rankings, including the 30th-ranked Wildcats. The entire field consists of Chattanooga, Colorado State, No. 25 Kansas, Louisiana-Monroe, No. 50 Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Penn State, Sam Houston, South Florida, No. 35 UNLV, Washington State and host-school Wisconsin.
 
Last time out at the Puerto Rico Classic, K-State finished in eighth place amongst a difficult 18-team field that featured 12 top-50 teams. The Wildcats, who carded a 10-over par 874, were led by Bernat, who tied for 18th place at even-par 216.
 
A native of Castellon, Spain, Bernat leads the Wildcats with a 70.53 scoring average, while her 70.77 career average as a Wildcat will be the best in school history once she has two more rounds played to qualify. Bernat enters the week ranked 29th nationally and 25th in the World Amateur Golf Rankings.
 
Bert, a transfer from East Tennessee State, ranks third on the squad with a 73.41 scoring average, just behind Navarro's 73.29 mark. Bert has produced four top-10 finishes this season, including a tie for seventh place at both the Powercat Invitational and Rainbow Wahine Invitational.
 
Nakashima, a native of Kani, Japan, has been a member of the scoring lineup in all six events this season, and she holds a scoring average of 73.47. van Beek has also been a part of the lineup in every event as she carries a 74.76 average, while her career average of 74.67 currently ranks fourth in school history. Ballester Barrio, who enters the event with a 75.17 average this season, is in the lineup for a second-straight event.
 
A shotgun start at 8:30 a.m. (MST) begins play for the first two rounds on Sunday, and the Wildcats will be competing in tribute to a K-Stater.
 
"One of the things that makes this tournament so special is the support from the community and our hosts that the players stay with each year," Burke said. "This year, we will be playing in memory of Dave Cox, who sadly passed away late last year. Dave was a former Assistant AD at Kansas State. He, alongside his wife, Carol, have been hosting the team for over 10 years at this event. He was an amazing person and will be missed by not only this group but many former Wildcat players who will remember his warm smile and positive attitude."

 
– k-statesports.com –
 
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

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