Kansas State University Athletics
From Concentration to Jubilation
Apr 18, 2025 | Women's Golf, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
The forecast for the 2025 Big 12 Championship on Thursday was sunny with showers for Kansas State senior Sophie Bert – who captured the individual title at Houston Oaks Golf Club in Hockley, Texas — as she was instantly drenched by celebratory water bottles from teammates following her final putt.
Bert, K-State's first ever individual winner at the conference championship, finished 2-under par 211, becoming the only player to finish under par while also posting the best three-round total in K-State's conference championship history.
"I was very much in the zone," said Bert, whose final score of 66 was the best ever by a K-State player in the conference championship and tied for sixth best overall. "I wasn't feeling too emotional or too happy in the final few holes because I didn't know the scores and was just trying to stay in the moment. I did that all the way until hole 18. Then the moment I sank my final putt was awesome.
"I had no idea, but then I saw the girls holding water bottles, and we all know what that means."
Bert laughed.
"It was awesome, honestly," she said. "It felt great."
Bert teamed with senior Carla Bernat, who tied for second place, to give K-State two players in the top 10 of a conference championship for the first time ever. They helped lead the charge as the Wildcats rose six spots during the final round to finish fifth place in the championship. The Wildcats' team score of 5-under par was the only team round under par in the entire championship.
The Wildcats finished third last season, giving them back-to-back top-5 finishes for the first time in conference championships.
K-State finished six strokes back of a three-team playoff to determine the conference champion, which was eventually won by Arizona. But the Wildcats, who entered the championship ranked in the top 30 nationally, fired a final-round total of 279 for their best round ever in a conference championship.
"We're very excited," Bert said. "Our team, we've proven ourselves, and we can do a lot more than what we showed today. We're capable of showing that in regionals, which I'm pretty sure we will, and it's going to be awesome."
Bert, a native of Deurle, Belgium, arrived at K-State sight unseen in August, after speaking with K-State head coach Stew Burke and assistant coach Rinko Mitsunaga over the summer. Burke and Mitsunaga at the 2024 NCAA Championships sought one experienced player to fill the Wildcats' talented roster. Bert, who had a standout three seasons at East Tennessee State, fit the bill.
Nearly one year later, Bert is on top of the Big 12.
"That was a really incredible round today by Sophie," Burke said. "Going into the final round, the team really needed some under-par scores, and they delivered. Getting to be with her the last couple holes, she looked cool, calm and collected. I'm not really sure if she knew where she was on the leaderboard or if she was just totally focused on the moment at hand."
Bert overcame an up-and-down first round before shooting up the leaderboard. On Tuesday, she was tied for 27th place at 3-over par 74 with five birdies but also six bogeys and one double bogey.
On Wednesday, Bert posted an even-par score to improve 13 spots up the leaderboard into a tie for 14th place at 3-over par 145. She was one of only 13 competitors among the 70-player field to shoot either even or under par with four birdies during the second round, including three over her first seven holes.
She carried that momentum onto the golf course on Thursday.
"I felt very chill the entire time," she said. "I just focused shot by shot and not really thinking about scores or anything. My chipping was good, and I made putts and mostly my irons were good. I hit them close to the pin.
"From hole No. 1 it started to click. I had a good tee shot, a little bit to the left, but Stew was there for my second shot, and honestly from that second shot on, everything felt great."
Bert entered the week second on the team with a 73.00 scoring average with six top-10 finishes, including a tie for second at the Westbrook Invitational in February.
Now as Big 12 Champion, she has a trophy to show for her hard work.
"It's a nice thing to have before starting my professional career," she said. "Especially with it being the Big 12 with lots of good golfers and good teams. It's a very special moment."
It's a moment that she planned to share with family via phone later Thursday. She plans to put the trophy in her father's home.
"He's already sent me a few texts," she said. "It's been great having him follow all the way across the world."
Bert's achievement comes after Bernat captured the 2025 Augusta National Women's Amateur Championship, making this a historic month for the K-State women's golf program.
"Obviously, as a coach you're incredibly proud of your group," Burke said. "Having an Augusta National Women's Amateur champion and an individual Big 12 champion is pretty special.
"It's been a pretty great couple of weeks for Kansas State women's golf."
The forecast for the 2025 Big 12 Championship on Thursday was sunny with showers for Kansas State senior Sophie Bert – who captured the individual title at Houston Oaks Golf Club in Hockley, Texas — as she was instantly drenched by celebratory water bottles from teammates following her final putt.
Bert, K-State's first ever individual winner at the conference championship, finished 2-under par 211, becoming the only player to finish under par while also posting the best three-round total in K-State's conference championship history.
"I was very much in the zone," said Bert, whose final score of 66 was the best ever by a K-State player in the conference championship and tied for sixth best overall. "I wasn't feeling too emotional or too happy in the final few holes because I didn't know the scores and was just trying to stay in the moment. I did that all the way until hole 18. Then the moment I sank my final putt was awesome.
"I had no idea, but then I saw the girls holding water bottles, and we all know what that means."
Bert laughed.
"It was awesome, honestly," she said. "It felt great."
Bert teamed with senior Carla Bernat, who tied for second place, to give K-State two players in the top 10 of a conference championship for the first time ever. They helped lead the charge as the Wildcats rose six spots during the final round to finish fifth place in the championship. The Wildcats' team score of 5-under par was the only team round under par in the entire championship.
The Wildcats finished third last season, giving them back-to-back top-5 finishes for the first time in conference championships.
K-State finished six strokes back of a three-team playoff to determine the conference champion, which was eventually won by Arizona. But the Wildcats, who entered the championship ranked in the top 30 nationally, fired a final-round total of 279 for their best round ever in a conference championship.
"We're very excited," Bert said. "Our team, we've proven ourselves, and we can do a lot more than what we showed today. We're capable of showing that in regionals, which I'm pretty sure we will, and it's going to be awesome."
Bert, a native of Deurle, Belgium, arrived at K-State sight unseen in August, after speaking with K-State head coach Stew Burke and assistant coach Rinko Mitsunaga over the summer. Burke and Mitsunaga at the 2024 NCAA Championships sought one experienced player to fill the Wildcats' talented roster. Bert, who had a standout three seasons at East Tennessee State, fit the bill.
Nearly one year later, Bert is on top of the Big 12.
"That was a really incredible round today by Sophie," Burke said. "Going into the final round, the team really needed some under-par scores, and they delivered. Getting to be with her the last couple holes, she looked cool, calm and collected. I'm not really sure if she knew where she was on the leaderboard or if she was just totally focused on the moment at hand."
Bert overcame an up-and-down first round before shooting up the leaderboard. On Tuesday, she was tied for 27th place at 3-over par 74 with five birdies but also six bogeys and one double bogey.
On Wednesday, Bert posted an even-par score to improve 13 spots up the leaderboard into a tie for 14th place at 3-over par 145. She was one of only 13 competitors among the 70-player field to shoot either even or under par with four birdies during the second round, including three over her first seven holes.
She carried that momentum onto the golf course on Thursday.
"I felt very chill the entire time," she said. "I just focused shot by shot and not really thinking about scores or anything. My chipping was good, and I made putts and mostly my irons were good. I hit them close to the pin.
"From hole No. 1 it started to click. I had a good tee shot, a little bit to the left, but Stew was there for my second shot, and honestly from that second shot on, everything felt great."
Bert entered the week second on the team with a 73.00 scoring average with six top-10 finishes, including a tie for second at the Westbrook Invitational in February.
Now as Big 12 Champion, she has a trophy to show for her hard work.
"It's a nice thing to have before starting my professional career," she said. "Especially with it being the Big 12 with lots of good golfers and good teams. It's a very special moment."
It's a moment that she planned to share with family via phone later Thursday. She plans to put the trophy in her father's home.
"He's already sent me a few texts," she said. "It's been great having him follow all the way across the world."
Bert's achievement comes after Bernat captured the 2025 Augusta National Women's Amateur Championship, making this a historic month for the K-State women's golf program.
"Obviously, as a coach you're incredibly proud of your group," Burke said. "Having an Augusta National Women's Amateur champion and an individual Big 12 champion is pretty special.
"It's been a pretty great couple of weeks for Kansas State women's golf."
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Golf
/ Women's Golf
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