Latest news with #Bernat
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kansas State golfer Carla Bernat thrilled to have teammates along for NCAA Championship
MANHATTAN — Kansas State golfer Carla Bernat has accomplished just about everything she could hope for as an individual in her college golf career, but one thing was missing. She wanted to share the postseason experience with her Wildcat teammates, and she finally got the chance in her final go-round. Advertisement Not only did Bernat claim the individual title last week at the NCAA Lexington Regional, securing her place at nationals for a second straight year, thanks to a tie for second place, but the whole team is tagging along. "It means everything," Bernat, a senior from Castellon, Spain, said of advancing the NCAA Championship, which gets underway Friday at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California. "I'm just really happy we made it. "I've been wanting to go with my team to nationals for four years, so getting that done, I think I was more nervous playing the last hole in regionals than in Augusta, so that means everything." Related: Kansas State golfer claims Augusta National Women's Amateur championship Advertisement Related: Kansas State women's golfer Sophie Bert claims medalist honors in Big 12 Championship Kansas State senior golfer Carla Bernat watches her tee shot during the third round of the NCAA Lexington Regional last Wednesday at the Keene Trace Golf Club in Nicholasville, Ky. If qualifying for nationals was the team highlight for Bernat, the individual high point to her senior season came last month when she won the Augusta National Women's Amateur title the week before The Master's. But it has been that kind of year. Bernat's three individual titles tied the school single-season record, and her 69.91 scoring average is on track to break her own school record of 70.90 from last year. The results are reflected in her postseason honors as Big 12 player of the year and a finalist for the ANNIKA Award presented to the top golfer in Division I. Advertisement K-State coach Stew Burke, who initially recruited Bernat to Tulane three years ago, has had a front row seat for her entire college career, which featured two standout seasons with the Green Wave and then two more in Manhattan when she followed Burke from New Orleans in 2023. What has impressed Burke more than Bernat's success in tournaments is the work she put in to get there. "Honestly, it's the day-to-day things that she does," Burke said. "She came in as a freshman at Tulane, and she knew she needed to get stronger and faster. She needed to get a little bit better technically, she needed to get a little bit better in her decision making, with her mental game. "And she did all of that. The plan was kind of laid out for her, and it's very easy to get sidetracked when you get good at one thing to then fall off on another thing." Advertisement Burke saw something special in Bernat from the first time he watched her on a recruiting trip to Spain when he was still the Tulane coach. Mostly, he saw the potential. "She's got a little bit of an unconventional move, and she was not a good putter," he recalled. "It's probably one of her strengths now when we talk about the little things that she's improved upon. "I think, for me, there was a high ceiling, and she wanted to know what she could improve upon in our first conversation. As a coach, that's a pretty rewarding thing, even in the recruiting process." When Burke took the K-State job, Bernat didn't hesitate to join him for her final two seasons. Burke was familiar with Manhattan from a three-year stint as a Wildcat assistant coach from 2014-17, so he quickly sold her on the idea. Advertisement "(Burke) told me really good things about Manhattan and how supported it is by the fans, and how proud this town is about the university," Bernat said. "When I came here, I knew I wanted to stay here, because the facilities are amazing. "The people are so nice compared to New Orleans. I think even when it's cold, it's nice here." While Bernat's college career winds down over the coming week, Burke knows it won't be the last women's golf fans will see of her. "She's going to do this for a living," he said. "She's going to do this for a long time, and having a small hand in her success is a big thing for Kansas State golf." Advertisement Arne Green is based in Salina and covers Kansas State University sports for the Gannett network. He can be reached at agreen@ or on X (formerly Twitter) at @arnegreen. This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas State golfer Carla Bernat views NCAA tourney as a team effort
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kansas State women's golf ready for historic first NCAA Championship appearance
The sense of history was not lost on members of the Kansas State women's golf team as they prepared for the program's first-ever trip to the NCAA Championship this week at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, California. That's not to say that the Wildcats are intimidated by the task at hand. Not after the way they played to reach their goal with a second-place finish two weeks ago at the Lexington (Ky.) Regional. Advertisement "It's super cool," senior Sophie Bert said of finally making it to nationals. "I have not been to nationals either, so then to have it as a K-State history thing, it's amazing. "Now we are indeed at the table, and then we can show them what we've got." The tournament consists of 54 holes of stroke play, Friday through Sunday, with the 30-team field trimmed to 15 in addition to the top nine individuals from non-advancing teams. The final round of stroke play Monday will determine the individual champion as well as the eight teams that advance to the match play quarterfinals. Related: Kansas State golfer Carla Bernat thrilled to have teammates along for NCAA Championship Advertisement Related: Kansas State women's golf ends eight-year postseason drought with NCAA Regional bid Kansas State senior Sophie Bert follows through on a shot during the final round of the NCAA Lexington Regional on May 7 in Lexington, Ky. The timing of K-State's first appearance at nationals could not have been better for Bert, an East Tennessee transfer from Belgium whose season highlight was claiming medalist honors at the Big 12 Tournament. But the only Wildcat with national tournament experience is Carla Bernat, a senior from Spain, who qualified last year as an individual. She has taken her game to another level this season by winning three tournaments, including the prestigious Augusta National Women's Amateur and the NCAA Lexington Regional while finishing second to Bert in the Big 12. Advertisement Bernat, the Big 12 player of the year, also is familiar with the par-72, 6,330-yard Omni La Costa course after playing there last year. "It's pretty much brand new. The greens were really hard last year," Bernat said. "It kind of challenges everything in your game. You have par 3s that are long, and you have par 5s that are not really reachable. "You need to have a really good short game. And the greens are, of course, fast, so you need to be good at everything in that golf course." K-State coach Stew Burke accompanied Bernat to nationals last year, so between them they were able to share some course knowledge with the rest of the team during Thursday's practice round. Advertisement "It's great because Carla made some mistakes last year on some of the holes," Burke said of the experience. "So, for us, we were a little bit more tuned in on certain holes because we knew you could make a mistake pretty easily out there. "This is a national championship, so they're going to set it up pretty hard and reward good golf." In addition to Bernat and Bert, K-State's lineup features junior Noa van Beek, sophomore Alenka Navarro and freshman Nanami Nakashima, with Julia Ballester Barrio serving as the alternate. Arne Green is based in Salina and covers Kansas State University sports for the Gannett network. He can be reached at agreen@ or on X (formerly Twitter) at @arnegreen. This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas State women's golf embraces historic NCAA Championship debut
USA Today
16-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Kansas State makes NCAA Championship debut with chip on shoulder after being snubbed in 2024
Kansas State makes NCAA Championship debut with chip on shoulder after being snubbed in 2024 CARLSBAD, Calif. — Stew Burke and his players waited, staring at the television inside the Colbert Hills Country Club clubhouse waiting for Kansas State's name to pop up. Regional after regional was announced during the 2024 NCAA Selection Show, and the Wildcats, fresh off a third-place finish at the Big 12 Championship, were in good position to make a regional. But Kansas State's name never came. Burke and his players sat, dejected after finding out they were the first team out of the NCAA postseason. He had three seniors, and their careers were over. A couple teams below .500 made it in the field over the Wildcats. "They deserved to go," Burke said. More: NCAA Women's Golf Championship live leaderboard: Updates, tee times, highlights Carla Bernat, the 2025 Augusta National Women's Amateur champion, was one of the players watching in the clubhouse who returned this year. That pain was a driving force through the offseason and this season, especially as the postseason neared. Bernat won twice in the regular season. Teammate Sophie Bert then won the Big 12 Conference individual title. Bernat, who won twice in the regular season, then won the NCAA Lexington Regional, but more importantly, she helped Kansas State tie for second. That meant the Wildcats punched their ticket to the 2025 NCAA Women's Golf Championship, their first time making nationals in school history. "The pain of not making it really drove them this year," Burke said Friday after Kansas State's opening round of 1 over at Omni La Costa. "They want to compete. They got a little chip on their shoulder. They want to be amongst these teams, whether they're invited or not." Friday morning marked the Wildcats' first round at nationals, finishing fourth of the 15 teams who teed off in the opening wave. The program has been riding a high the last two months on the heels of Bernat's victory at ANWA, and since then, the Wildcats have continued to ride momentum. Burke said his team has been motivated since being slighted last year, and that it's player driven. His players, including newcomers to this year's lineup, have pushed to ensure what happened last year to Kansas State didn't happen again. Kansas State won its home event to open the season. A pair of runner-up finishes to complete the fall slate led to momentum in the spring, with the Wildcats winning the MountainView Collegiate in March. Bernat then won ANWA, and the momentum behind the program had never been higher. Then came individual wins in both postseason events, and in Lexington, Kansas State punched its ticket to nationals for the first time. The Wildcats were going to Omni La Costa, riding the wave of momentum that started last spring in the Colbert Hills clubhouse. "I want young ladies that want to win. They want to compete, and they, you know, they're, they're not scared," Burke said. "People showed up at the airport when Carla won ANWA, and people showed up at the airport when we made it home from regionals at 11:30 on a Wednesday night." More: 2025 NCAA Div. I Women's Golf Championship predictions: Picks to win team, individual title Burke said Bernat's leadership has been on display all season. He said she's essentially an extra coach for Kansas State, encouraging her teammates to make smart decisions that can be the difference between winning and runner-up finishes over a 54-hole tournament. She's also one of 10 finalists for the 2025 Annika Award, given to the top women's college golfer in the country. The Wildcats' drive remains high, and their mentality won't change this week, even in unfamiliar territory. "There's probably people here that are like, 'Who are Kansas State? Why are they here? What, they drive their purple tractor?' Well, yeah, we did. And we're hoping to run some people over," Burke said. "We know this is a big task. We know these are the finest teams, the finest players, the finest coaches in the country. It's a good chance for us to test ourselves against them and that's really the message. It's just a golf tournament. We're gonna go and tee it up and play three rounds, see where it takes us, and if that gets us a fourth, great. And then we'll see what comes from there."
USA Today
15-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
10 must-watch players at the 2025 NCAA Women's Golf Championship at Omni La Costa
It's time for the national championship. The 2025 NCAA Women's Golf Championship gets underway Friday at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa's North Course in Carlsbad, California. Thirty of the best women's golf teams in the country will descend upon Southern California to battle it out for the national title. And making up those teams are some of the best players in the amateur game. There are numerous stars who will play for the individual title over the coming days at Omni La Costa, including plenty who are finalists for the 2025 Annika Award. 10 players to watch at NCAA Women's Golf Championship Carla Bernat, Kansas State Bernat, the Augusta National Women's Amateur Champion, beat the two top-ranked players in college golf to win the NCAA Lexington Regional last week, her third victory of the year. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle Carolina Chacarra, Wake Forest Chacarra has been a stalwart in Wake Forest's lineup since the Demon Deacons won the national title two years ago, and after winning the NCAA Lubbock Regional, she's in form heading to Omni La Costa. Hannah Darling, South Carolina Darling hasn't won since the season opening Annika Intercollegiate, but she also hasn't finished outside of the top 14 and is always in contention in the biggest events. Kary Hollenbaugh, Ohio State Hollenbaugh has had a dominant spring, winning four times. A T-10 at the NCAA Columbus Regional is a "bad" finish for her, but no one has won more than her in 2025. Maria Jose Marin, Arkansas A constant presence in the Razorbacks' lineup for two years, Marin knows how to content in big events, and it shouldn't be a surprise to see her near the top of the leaderboard. Farah O'Keefe, Texas O'Keefe is the best player in college golf without a win this season, but she has seven top-10 finishes, including a solo second at the NCAA Lubbock Regional. Andrea Revuelta, Stanford It's hard to pick just one player from Stanford, but Revuelta has been the hottest coming into the NCAA Championship, winning both the ACC individual title and NCAA Norman Regional. Kiara Romero, Oregon Romero was one of the most consistent players in the country heading into the postseason, and she finally broke through at the Big 10 Championship and added another win at the NCAA Gold Canyon Regional. Mirabel Ting, Florida State Ting is part of a dominant Florida State 1-2 punch (more on No. 2 later), winning five times this season and losing to only nine golfers in eight stroke-play events all year. Lottie Woad, Florida State The other half of the Seminoles' dynamic duo, Woad led after the opening round at NCAAs last year and has remained the No. 1 amateur in the world for coming up on a year.
Epoch Times
15-05-2025
- Business
- Epoch Times
Australia's Largest Bank Quizzing Customers for Details on Cash Withdrawals
Commonwealth Bank customers have raised concerns after being quizzed about their intentions when withdrawing large amounts of cash. Banks have asked more detail questions about cash transactions with customers (including deposits) in response to government pressure to deal with money laundering concerns. Australian businessman Louis Christopher, co-founder of real estate data agency SQM Research, labelled some of the inquiries 'disgusting.' He claimed he received an email asking for information on how he created his wealth, why he was making cash withdrawals, if he was holding cash at home, and why he had made certain payments to third parties. He shared copies of further correspondence from CommBank, including a warning that his accounts could be restricted or closed within seven days if he did not respond. The bank also threatened to stop his ability to use automatic teller machines and bank cards. Related Stories 2/24/2025 4/30/2025 The correspondence cited Australia's Know Your Customer (KYC) obligations, which require financial institutions to verify customers' identities and understand the source of their wealth in order to comply with anti-money laundering laws. 'They were going to suspend all my accounts this week if I didn't tell them the answers ...,' Christopher The Epoch Times has contacted AUSTRAC—the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre—for comment. Other customers have also spoken out. Australian academic Eva Bernat said on X she hired a lawyer after CommBank initially refused her request for a large cash withdrawal. While Bernat was able to access her cash after lodging complaints, she said CommBank still demanded receipts to verify her purchases. 'People are leaving banks in droves, to no one's surprise,' she said. Bernat has lodged an official complaint with the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA), a dispute resolution service for banking customers. AFCA has also been contacted for comment. Former Queensland Premier Campbell Newman said there was no point trying to stamp out financial crime by imposing red tape on honest businesspeople. 'The [anti-money laundering] laws as they stand are draconian, authoritarian, and give banks an excuse to act quite unreasonably,' he said. Australian $50, $20, and $5 banknotes, and Australian Medicare card in a wallet in Sydney, Australia on March 25, 2025. LisaA CommBank spokesperson said the bank was required to comply with the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006. 'All banks operating within Australia are required to collect, verify, and maintain customer identification information,' the spokesperson said. 'In the same way that we need to comply with regulations when a customer first opens an account, we also need to comply with current law regarding the maintenance of their identification information. 'Ensuring we have a customer's most up-to-date and correct details also helps us to keep them safe and protect them from fraud.'
