For the second consecutive year, Virginia junior Derek Bard (New Hartford, N.Y.) finished first at the U.S. Collegiate Championship at the Golf Club of Atlanta. This year he had to share the individual title as four players finished the three-day tournament at 6-under 210. No playoff was used to determine the individual medalist.
Virginia, ranked No. 22, shot 7-over 295 during Sunday’s final round of play to place 10th in the 17-team field. The Hoos shot 12-over 876 during the 54-hole event. The tournament featured 16 teams ranked in the current Golfstat top-50 rankings. Top-ranked Auburn and fifth-ranked Wake Forest shared the team title at 9-under 855.
Bard shot even par 72 during the final round and shared the individual title with Stanford’s Maverick McNealy, Wake Forest’s Cameron Young and Auburn’s Will Long. Bard won the tournament last year with a score of 15-under 201.
“Congrats to Derek for defending his title,” said Virginia coach Bowen Sargent. “He played very well again this week and really carried the team. We look forward to next year to see if he can three-peat.”
UVA junior Jimmy Stanger (Tampa, Fla.) placed 36th overall at 5-over 221. Freshman Thomas Walsh (High Point, N.C.) was 41st at 222. Both of those players joined Bard in shooting 72 during the final round.
Sophomore Danny Walker (Bradenton, Fla.) and senior Nick McLaughlin (New Castle, N.H.) tied for 65th overall at 227. Walker finished with an 80 while McLaughlin shot 79 during the final round.
“As always the USCC was a great experience,” Sargent said. “It is an NCAA Championship caliber field and golf course. We learned a lot about our team the past three days. We now know we can compete with college golf’s best but we also know where we have to improve to play at the highest level.”
The Cavaliers wrap up their fall schedule at the Charleston Southern Kiawah Classic Nov. 1-3.
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