New coach, new look has K-State women's golf ready for spring season

MANHATTAN (KSNT) - K-State women's golf is back in full swing for its spring season, but the squad looks a little different this time around.

K-State and long-time head coach Kristi Night parted ways in May of 2023 after she spent 28 seasons at the helm. Night's departure created an opportunity for the team's new head coach Stew Burke to step in, but this isn't Burke's first rodeo in Manhattan.

He was an assistant coach with K-State women's golf from 2014-16, and he just couldn't stay away from Colbert Hills.

"It's the best-kept secret in America," Burke said. "It's a beautiful town, it's got great facilities. The administration wants to win and be competitive."

His golfers have taken to that mentality as well, especially after finishing the 2023 fall season with a tournament win at the White Sands Invitational.

"I'm really confident for us this season," sophomore golfer Noa van Beek said.

Her teammate, Carla Bernat, transferred to K-State this year to continue playing under Burke. She played for him at Tulane, where he was the head golf coach before taking the job in Manhattan.

"He's like my dad here in the states, like I need him," Bernat said. "So coming here, having him here all the time is just great." 

Even though he's only been their head coach for less than a full season, the 'Cats are all in on Coach Burke.

"We're really organized and structured, which is really good for us," van Beek said. 'And just besides that, we just try to have fun and work as a team."