Collegiate golf aces set for pivotal ICTSI clash in Pampanga

PAMPANGA – Round 4 of the ICTSI Intercollegiate Tournament promises a high-stakes showdown this Sunday, Aug. 17, at Beverly Place Golf Club as the top three collegiate golfers from the first three legs face off in a battle that could define the race for the inaugural championship.

Leading the men’s division are Sean Granada (CSB-1), Zachary Castro (La Salle-1), and Joshua Buenaventura (UP-1), each eyeing a second leg victory and valuable momentum heading into the grand finals on Sept. 23-25 at Splendido Taal Golf Club.

The stakes extend beyond a finals berth, with the winner gaining confidence, bragging rights, and the chance to set the tone as the first-ever ICTSI Intercollegiate champion.

Granada, champion of Round 2 at Splendido Taal and runner-up in Round 3 at Pradera Verde, and Castro, who won at Pradera after placing second in Round 1 at Royal Northwoods, are tied atop the leaderboard with 27 points each.

Buenaventura, who won Round 1 but skipped the second leg, sits just two points back with 25 after finishing third at Pradera Verde.

His UP-1 teammate Miggy Roque is fourth with 20 points, while Rans Balay-odao of UC-1 rounds out the top five with 16.

Adding to the drama, the top three individual contenders represent the current top three schools in the team standings, making Round 4 a dual fight for both individual and team supremacy.

The team event follows a three-to-play, two-to-count format, with UP-1 — also featuring Emilio Carpio and Roque — leading at 30 points after victories at Royal Northwoods and Pradera Verde.

CSB-1, with David Guangco and C’zedrick Sulaik, is second with 25 points, while La Salle-1, supported by Jose Lorenzo Flores and Miguel Fusilero, is close behind at 24.

DLSU-2 (Arvin Ong, Lucas Aldeguer, Jet Ang) holds 16 points, followed by Ateneo-1 (Schmuel Tan, Emilio Curran, Christian Romero) with 14.

Round 4 is crucial not only for leaders but also for the rest of the field hoping to make a last push for the finals of the tournament co-developed by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and the Philippine Golf Foundation.

The women’s division resumes on Aug. 24 at Eastridge Golf Club in Binangonan, Rizal, with the anticipated return of Julia Lua (La Salle-1) after missing the Caliraya Springs and Pradera Verde legs due to health concerns.

Lua, who dominated the pre-launch at Sherwood Hills and Round 1 at Royal Northwoods, will try to reclaim the top spot from Addie Manhit (UP-1), who leads with 27 points after two runner-up finishes and a win at Caliraya.

Simi Tinio (Ateneo-1) is third with 18 points, while Lua is tied with Shane Tan (Ateneo-2) at 15 points, the latter having won at Pradera.

As with the men’s division, the women’s Round 4 is expected to be a tightly contested battle where every shot counts.