The Masters: Virginia's Derek Bard Finishes +9, Misses Cut

In the end, Augusta National finally jumped up and bit UVA golfer Derek Bard. After posting a 76 during Thursday’s first round at The Masters, Bard hung around for most of the day on Friday before faltering down the home stretch. The junior from upstate New York shot 77 on the day and finished +9 after two rounds. He fell short of making the cut, which looks to have settled at +5.

Once again, Bard moved through Augusta’s front nine with minimal damage. After bogeying the first hole, he parred the next five. He bogeyed the seventh, but seemed again to steady himself with a birdie at #10. Like Thursday, however, Bard had trouble with Augusta’s second nine. He bogeyed the twelfth, fifteenth, and seventeenth, and double-bogeyed the sixteenth. He ended on a positive note, however, with a birdie on #18.

Bard was frustrated with his putter after Thursday’s round, and he likely won’t be any happier with hit after Friday. He had reasonable birdie putts at nos. 3, 5, 6, 8, and 13, but failed to convert. He'll likely look back at those putts as missed opportunities to make it to the weekend.

Still, Bard leaves Augusta with many reasons to be proud. In addition to the thrill of playing in first Masters, he also finished among a number of well-established players. Rickie Fowler, who’s ranked fifth in the world according to the Official World Golf Rankings, also birdied the eighteenth hole to finish +9. Jason Dufner, who won the 2013 PGA Championship, sat at +10 after 17. Bard also finished third among the six amateurs playing in the event.

Augusta National proved extra difficult Friday. At the time of publication, only 7 of the 89 players were under par on the day.

Stay tuned to Streaking the Lawn for more UVA golf coverage.