Virginia Men's Golf Announces Two-Man Signing Class

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Nov. 16, 2012

Charlottesville, Va. – Virginia men’s golf coach Bowen Sargent announced that two top junior players have signed national letters of intent and will begin competing for the Cavaliers next fall. The signing class includes Derek Bard of New Hartford, N.Y., and Jimmy Stanger of Tampa, Fla. Stanger is ranked No. 51 in the American Junior Golf Association/Polo standings and Bard is 60th.

“We’re excited with the addition of Jimmy Stanger and Derek Bard for the 2013 Virginia men’s golf class,” Sargent said. “Both are highly regarded and well ranked, but more importantly, each brings a strong work ethic and desire to be ACC and NCAA Champions. Jimmy and Derek are committed to being a complete student-athlete and are well-rounded young men. Derek and Jimmy were drawn to Virginia because of its strong academic reputation. I’m looking forward to working with both Derek and Jimmy, as I think they both have a lot of upside and will help the program reach our goals of winning our program’s first ACC Championship.”

Bard is currently ranked 35th by Junior Golf Scoreboard which also has him listed as the No. 3 player in the state of New York. He is coming off an outstanding year of junior and high school competition.

He won the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Championship this year and was sixth at the Junior PGA Championship. He was fourth at the event in 2011. He placed 18th at the USGA Junior Amateur and was eighth at the AJGA Golf Pride tournament. Bard finished 16th at the Western Junior Championship, was 20th at the AJGA Polo Championship and 29th at the Junior Players Championship. He was 20th at the 2011 AJGA Polo Championship.

Bard’s mother, Dawn, graduated from Virginia.

“Derek had one of the best summers of any junior in the country,” Sargent said. “Derek has a certain intensity and desire when he plays. He’s an incredible putter and mentally tough. His work-ethic and desire is incredible.”

Stanger is currently ranked 63rd by Junior Golf Scoreboard which also has him listed as the No. 3 player in the state of Florida.

He won the HJGT 54-Hole Mid-Season Championship, was second at the AJGA Junior at Fox Hill and placed third at the FJT at Lake Jovita tournament. He was third in the Florida Boys 2A State Championship.

Stanger’s other recent top finishes include a fifth-place showing at the AJGA Puerto Rico Open, a ninth-place performance at the Western Junior Championship and a 13th-place effort at the Florida Junior Boys Championship. In 2011, he was fifth at the Junior Jones Cup.

“Jimmy has very solid fundamentals and is driven to be a champion,” Sargent said. “Jimmy is the first Floridian I’ve recruited in my nine recruiting classes. He has been very competitive against some of the top juniors in the AJGA ranks and I’m excited about the game he will bring to Virginia.”