Bard's Stellar Final Round Propels Him to U.S. Collegiate Title
Story Links
Oct. 19, 2014 Alpharetta, Ga. – Sophomore Derek Bard (New Hartford, N.Y.) shot 8-under 64 to run away with the individual title and help the 25th-ranked Virginia men’s golf team to a second-place finish at the U.S. Collegiate Championship at The Golf Club of Atlanta.
Bard overtook teammate Denny McCarthy (Rockville, Md.) during the final round to win the tournament at 15-under 201. His final round effort matched his low 18-hole total as a collegiate and his tournament total was a new personal best. The win was the first in Bard’s career and his sixth top-10 finish in 14 career tournaments. His previous best outing was a runner-up effort at the Palmetto Intercollegiate last spring.
Bard got off to a quick start with an eagle on the par-5, 542-yard first hole. He added six birdies during his round that was bogey free. Bard recorded just two bogeys during his 54 holes of play.
Bard’s 54-hole total of 201 ranks as the third lowest in UVa history. Ben Kohles set the UVa tournament scoring mark with an 18-under 198 at The Schenkel in 2012. In 2001, current PGA Tour professional Steve Marino shot 200 at The Legends Club in Franklin, Tenn.
McCarthy, who opened the tournament by tying the UVa single-round scoring record with a 9-under 63, shot even par 72 for the second consecutive day. He was the runner-up at 9-under 207. It marked the second consecutive tournament McCarthy has placed second. He was the runner-up at the rain-shortened Bank of Tennessee Intercollegiate last weekend.
Virginia finished one shot behind ninth-ranked Texas in the hunt for the team title. Both schools shot 11-under 277 during Sunday’s final round. The Longhorns finished at 21-under 843 while the Cavaliers’ 844 was their low result of the season. LSU finished third at 857. The event’s 15-team field included 11 teams currently ranked in the top-30 of the latest Golfstat poll.
UVa freshman Danny Walker (Bradenton, Fla.) finished 24th at 217, his lowest tournament score, including a 2-under 70 on Sunday. Jimmy Stanger (Tampa, Fla.) was 59th at 224 and Nick McLaughlin (New Castle, N.H.) was 65th at 226. Stanger shot 71 during the final round while McLaughlin finished with a 78.
The Cavaliers will open the spring portion of their schedule on Feb. 18 at the John Burns Intercollegiate in Kauai, Hawaii.
U.S. Collegiate Championship
The Golf Club of Georgia
Alpharetta, Ga.
Par-72, 7,017 yards
Final Results
Team Results 1. Texas 278-288-277-843 2. Virginia 272-295-277-844 3. LSU 296-279-282-857 4. Wake Forest 288-284-286-858 5. UCLA 287-294-279-860 6. Auburn 286-289-286-861 7. Georgia Tech 296-285-281-862 7. Washington 290-290-282-862 9. Texas A&M 281-289-293-86310. Clemson 294-290-284-86811. Iowa 291-289-289-86912. East Tennessee St. 286-292-297-87513. Stanford 283-293-300-87614. Oklahoma State 290-286-304-88015. Kent State 304-296-292-892
Individual Leaders1. Derek Bard, Virginia 66-71-64-2012. Denny McCarthy, Virginia 63-72-72-2073. Cody Proveaux, Clemson 73-67-69-2093. Cheng-Tsung Pan, Washington 67-75-67-2093. Gavin Hall, Texas 67-75-67-209
Virginia Results 1. Derek Bard 66-71-64-201 2. Denny McCarthy 63-72-72-20725. Danny Walker 72-75-70-21759. Jimmy Stanger 76-77-71-22465. Nick McLaughlin 71-77-78="http:>="http:>="http:>="http:>="http:>="http:>="http:>