Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG — Virginia Tech head men's golf coach Brian Sharp announced Monday the signing of Balthazar Duclos, Will Watson and Mehrbaan Singh to National Letters of Intent. The three golfers will join the Hokies in the fall of 2022.
"I am very excited for the class that we signed for 2022. Each has different strengths to their games, but all three have a great work ethic, are nationally competitive and will be great teammates to our returning players," Sharp said.
Balthazar Duclos
6-3
Garches, France
Pearson Online Academy
High School: France does not have high school teams or tournaments … Instead, they have golf club under-16 teams that compete for the French National title each year … Played for the Golf de St. Cloud team for four years (2016-2019) … National champions in 2018 ... National vice-champions in 2017 ... Advanced to the semifinals in 2016 and quarterfinals in 2019.
Junior/Amateur: In France, he won 19 junior U12 and U14 tournaments at the national level (2014-2017), including the Tournoi Federal, the most prestigious French U14 Invitational … Has one top-3 and two top-10s in French Men's Amateur Grand Prix (2019-2020) … Semi-finalist at the 2019 Pierre Massie International U16 … Made the cut at the 2021 French International Men's Amateur where he tied for 29th … After coming to the US in 2019, he has been runner-up at the 2019 AJGA Preview Sandestin ... Tied for fourth at the 2021 Lanto Junior Championship AJGA Open … Tied for fifth at the 2019 Stewart Cink Championship by Transamerica AJGA Open … Tied for ninth at the 2021 AJGA Junior at Oldfield AJGA Open.
Awards/Performances: Three-time selection for the French National Boys U14 squad, where the French beat Scotland in 2017 and beat Spain in 2017 … Paris League Champion in 2016 … In 2015 and 2017, he was the Paris League Vice-Champion.
Personal: Balthazar Duclos … Born in New York, N.Y. …. Has lived in France majority of his life … Son of Nathalle Le Marc and Phillippe Duclos … One brother, Octave Duclos, played for the Pomona-Pitzer men's golf team … Has eight hole-in-ones, two of which were in tournament play … Wants to major in Interior Design or Marketing … Career goal is to become a professional golfer and compete on the PGA Tour … If golf does not work out, he would like to become an interior designer.
Sharp on Duclos: "The first thing you notice with Balthazar is how technically good his golf swing is, it just looks very natural. Very cerebral, I think he eats classic novels for breakfast, and he's so inquisitive and always wants to understand how things work and how he can continue getting better. It will be fun for me to help Balthazar keep learning, and he is going to do the same for me."
Will Watson
6-2
Abington, Va.
Abington High School
High School: Four-year lettermen and three-time State Champion … 2019 State Championship runner-up … Placed second at the 2020 VHSL State Championship … Got second place at the 2021 VHSL State Championship
Amateur/Junior: 2021 Western Junior participant … Tied for eighth at the 2020 Rome Junior Classic AJGA … Tied for sixth at the 2018 Delta Dental State Open of Virginia.
Awards/Performances: Region 3D Player of the Year in 2019 and 2020 … Three-time member of the VSGA State Cup team … Ranked 588th in the Rolex AJGA ranking.
Personal: William Todd Watson … Born in Abington, Va. … Son of Todd Watson and brother to Reece Watson, 18 … Watson's father was a collegiate golfer and a PGA professional … Plans to major in Business … Career-wise, wants to pursue entrepreneurship while
improving the world around him.
Sharp on Watson: "Will has such a magnetic personality. I think he is one of those people that everyone just enjoys spending time with and he gets along with anyone. He has struggled a little this past year with some injuries but he's the type of player that looks like he was meant to have a golf club in his hands. He has a tremendous amount of potential with his game and will do very well going forward."
Mehrbaan Singh
5-10
Alexandria, Va.
Independence High School
High School: Three-time lettermen … Two-time State Champion … One individual team champion … Team captain for three years … Two-time First Team All-State
Amateur/Junior: First at the Rolex Tournament of Champions … Played in the Junior Players Tournament … Played in the Scott Robertson and the Team Taylormade Invitational ... Played at the Simplify Boy's Junior Championship … Tied for second at the 108th Virginia State Golf Association Amateur Championship … Selected for the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship... Tied for first at the Boys 14-15 Richmond Junior Open … In 2019, placed first at the Virginia Summer Junior Open … Placed first at the 2019 Maryland Spring Junior Open
Awards/Performances: Rolex All-American.
Personal: Mehrbaan Singh … Born in Alexandria, Va. … Son of Rippy Singh and Sandeep Kaur … Has one brother, Sujaan Singh, 14 … Planning on majoring in Business.
Sharp on Singh: "Mehrbaan is simply an outstanding competitor and fun to watch because you know he will just keep grinding away no matter the circumstances. He has a very mature outlook to playing the game, certainly more strategic than other players his age, and he is going to push the others in practice and qualifying. Really looking forward to seeing how he does during his career at Virginia Tech."