FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 24, 2023 (Paradise Island, Bahamas) – Kansas State may not have a chance to practice on seaside golf courses in Manhattan, Kansas, but the Wildcats women’s golf team is still the clear favorite of the 11 teams in this week’s White Sands Bahamas NCAA Invitational at the Ocean Club Golf Course at Paradise Island, Bahamas. The 54-hole event is scheduled from Friday through Sunday (Oct. 27-29).
Kansas State’s best golfer is Carla Bernat, a junior from Spain, who is ranked 31st among collegiate women’s golfers. Interestingly, Bernat played her last two seasons at Tulane, another team in the field that will challenge the Wildcats, who are ranked 66th in the latest Golfweek Sagarin Rankings. Other teams in the top 110 and likely to offer the biggest challenge to Kansas State are Grand Canyon, Delaware, North Florida and Santa Clara, the host school for the event.
However, Bernat will miss the week because she is representing Spain in the upcoming World Amateur Golfers Championship, leaving head coach Stew Burke to find strength in numbers. “We will miss her. Without her, it puts us back in the pack. But we have a talented group and it’s an opportunity for them to step up,” Burke said. Alenka Navarro, a freshman from Mexico, will likely step into the lead role for the Wildcats.
But while Kansas State may not be as secure in its favored position without Bernat, Burke is not worried about the forecasted windy conditions that offer defense for the Ocean Club Golf Course. “We may not have seaside courses in Kansas, but it is windy, so I hope it won’t be much of a difference for us. We are looking forward to the week. Any chance you get to play that golf course is a treat.”
Other teams competing are UNC-Charlotte, Eastern Kentucky, Eastern Michigan, Tampa and Troy. This is the fourth year for the annual golf tournament, which was previously played at the Ocean Club Golf Course in 2019, 2021 and 2022. Texas, Campbell and Lipscomb are the past women’s winners over the 6,415-yard layout designed by past major champion Tom Weiskopf.
For more coverage of the 2023 White Sands Bahamas NCAA Invitational, follow @WhiteSandsBah on social media and use the following hashtags: #WhiteSandsBahamas and #WhiteSandsNCAA or visit WhiteSandsBahamas.com
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ABOUT THE BAHAMAS
With over 700 islands and cays and 16 unique island destinations, The Bahamas lies just 50 miles off the coast of Florida, offering an easy fly-away escape that transports travelers away from their everyday. The Islands of The Bahamas have world-class fishing, diving, boating and thousands of miles of the earth’s most spectacular water and beaches waiting for families, couples and adventurers. Explore all the islands have to offer at www.bahamas.com or on Facebook, YouTube, or Instagram to see why “It’s Better in The Bahamas.”
ABOUT OCEAN CLUB GOLF COURSE
Atlantis Paradise Island’s Ocean Club Golf Course offers a challenging and beautiful course for golfers desiring championship play. Masterfully conceived, the Tom Weiskopf-designed 18-hole, par 72 championship course stretches over 7,100 yards on Atlantis’ peninsula. The course has hosted iconic sporting events such as the Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational (MJCI), the Michael Douglas & Friends Celebrity Golf Tournament and the Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic. For more information about Atlantis Paradise Island resort and the Ocean Club please visit www.atlantisbahamas.com.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
For White Sands Bahamas NCAA Invitational
Contact: Mike Harmon
[email protected]
BAHAMAS MINISTRY OF TOURISM, INVESTMENTS & AVIATION CONTACT:
Anita Johnson-Patty
[email protected]
ATLANTIS CONTACT:
Katie Longley
Atlantis Paradise Island
242-376-1034
[email protected]
