NEW HARTFORD’S DEREK BARD COMMITS TO UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINA
Story courtesy: Nick Sardina-CNYGolfhome.com
August 17
Derek Bard has accomplished almost everything a high school player can hope to during his career.
Derek Bard agrees to golf for the Virginia Cavaliers!
He has won a state championship, three Section III titles and four Class championships, not to mention competing in several prestigious junior events on the national level.
On Thursday, Bard verbally committed to play his college golf at the University of Virginia.
“I went down for a visit and fell in love with the campus,” said Bard, who will join the Cavaliers in the fall of 2013.
Bard was first contacted by Virginia head coach Bowen Sargent on Sept. 1 of 2011 – the first day coaches were allowed to contact high school juniors.
Bard and Sargent connected immediately and that was another factor in deciding to play at Virginia instead of Duke and Auburn, who also showed interest in signing Bard.
The official signing doesn’t take place until later this year. Bard is receiving a partial scholarship as golf programs only have 4 1/2 scholarships to offer and have 12-man teams.
So they split it up as best as they can. His scholarship can go up or down depending on performance, as well as other factors.
Another reason why the Cavaliers appealed to Bard was their competitiveness and goals as a program.
“They seem very determined to win an NCAA title and they are capable of doing that,” Bard said. “That’s what I want to do.
“It’s also close enough to drive home, so I won’t have to worry about catching flights every time I go home.
“It was really just a nice fit.”
Bard is eager to begin his senior season at New Hartford and begin building toward his next challenge in golf and in life.
“It’s thrilling and just a cool time in my life,” Bard said. “It’s a relief that the recruiting process is over and now I can just concentrate on getting my golf game ready for the fall of 2013.”
