The Kansas State women’s golf team waited anxiously to hear its name called for this year’s NCAA Tournament, hoping to avoid the heartbreak of narrowly missing out like last season.
But this year was different. The No. 27-ranked Wildcats were confident they would be in this year after putting in a full, successful season with a lot of hard work.
“We knew we were going to make it, we just didn’t know what seed or where we were going to go,” junior golfer Noa Van Beek said. “We are very excited, I think we deserve it.”
The ‘Cats placed in the top half of all but one tournament in which they competed as a team. Adding in the individual accomplishments of seniors Carla Bernat and Sophie Bert, this year’s K-State team has a very solid resume.
With the ‘Cats being selected as the No. 5 seed in the Lexington Regional, they’ve made it into the NCAA Regional for the first time since 2017 and just the sixth time in program history.
“Everybody has told me about the history, so it’s been an awesome feeling to be part of it,” Bert said.
Some other notable teams in K-State’s regional include Florida State, USC, TCU and Vanderbilt — the four seeds that were placed in front of the ‘Cats.
Head coach Stew Burke, before becoming head coach at K-State ahead of last season, spent a few years as an associate head coach at USC, so he is well aware of the rich tradition USC carries.
“I’ve never as a head coach competed against Southern Cal — it’s a good chance to see how we stack up against them,” Burke said. “I know how good of a program they are.”
Last week, K-State competed in the Big 12 Championship, where it placed fifth as a team. On the last day, the Wildcats started in 11th but great performances from Big 12 Champion Bert and runner-up Bernat to catapult them toward the top.
K-State’s finish in the Big 12 Tournament gives the team momentum moving into this high-stakes competition. Now that K-State is in the regional as a team, the goal still isn’t completed.
Burke and the rest of the team have expectations of competing in the NCAA Championship, the round which follows regionals. The top five teams in each regional advance to the tournament, played May 16-21 at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California.
“We want to look past this regional; our focus can’t be just making it to the regional,” Burke said. “It is a step in the right direction, but we need to put on a good show in Lexington and, after three rounds, see if we are in the top five.”
Last season, most people thought the Wildcats had a chance in the tournament, but were ultimately left out, devastating players, coaches and fans.
“It was really disappointing, but I think it was a big motivation to not just make it to regional — we want to get way further than that,” Van Beek said.
Even though the Wildcats didn’t make regionals as a team last year, individually, Augusta National Women’s Amateur champion Bernat was invited to play in the regionals, where she advanced to the NCAA Championship as the low individual not on an advancing team.
This year, she gets to compete again, but with her team, looking to bring experience and calmness to the group. Currently, Bernat is competing in the 2025 Chevron Championship, so she enjoyed the tournament selection moment from afar.
“I think [Bernat] is more excited than I am that the team is coming along with her,” Burke said. “She is a team player, to be able to think about your teammates in your finest moment, speaks volumes for her.”
The 54-hole Lexington Regional will take place May 5-7 as the Wildcats team try to etch their names further into the history books.
