La Salle flexes depth, seizes full control of UAAP golf

TAGAYTAY — What was expected to be a tightly contested battle for the inaugural UAAP Season 88 Golf Tournament is rapidly turning into a La Salle showcase.

After spending the opening day gauging both the competition and the demanding Midlands layout, the Green Archers and Lady Archers unleashed a commanding second-round performance that put them firmly on track for a sweep of both the men’s and women’s divisions. With 36 holes still left in the 72-hole championship, La Salle has already created clear separation from the rest of the field, tightening its grip on both the individual and team races.

Perry Bucay and Zach Castro continued to anchor the Green Archers’ charge, staying 1-2 in the men’s individual standings after 71 and 72, respectively, for 36-hole totals of 143 and 145, respectively.

Their steady play likewise bolstered La Salle’s bid in the team competition as junior golf standout Martin Lu debuted with a 74 and counted for the team’s 217 output in the four-to-play, three-to-count format tournament presented by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. and supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, Wilson Philippines, and Akari.

With a two-day aggregate of 440, the Green Archers stretched their overnight five-stroke lead into a massive 26-shot advantage over the University of the Philippines, which compiled a 466 after a 240 behind Joshua Buenaventura’s 75, Emilio Carpio’s 81, and Miggy Roque’s 84.

Buenaventura remained third in individual play with 149, while Ateneo’s Glenn Unabia carded a 74 for 150, and Carpio stood fifth with a 158.

Bucay, who closed out with two backside birdies, drew inspiration from his teammates’ strong start and continued to attack both the course and the field with a near-flawless performance.

Despite building a commanding lead, La Salle has no intention of easing up.

“We’re not going to step on the brakes,” Bucay said of La Salle’s approach this week. “We’re trying to make a statement here, especially since it’s the first year of UAAP golf.”

Reflecting on his 37-34 round, Bucay said he continued to lean on his strong tee shots and approach game, though he admitted there is still room for improvement around the greens.

“Overall, it was a little better since I managed to finish under par compared to yesterday,” he said.

Bucay also praised the newcomers in the rotation for stepping up when needed.

“They showed up and performed. They delivered more than we expected, which is good,” he added, referring in particular to Lu’s impressive 74 after coming off a runner-up finish in the Junior PGT in Cagayan de Oro last week.

Ateneo pulled within five strokes of UP with a 471 after a 231 as Unabia posted a two-over round, Schmuel Tan chipped in a 75, and Mich Romero added an 82, while UST and Adamson took the next two spots in the five-team field with 251-512 and 367-737, respectively.

The Lady Archers proved just as relentless, mounting their own second-round charge to seize control of both the individual and team competitions.

Julia Lua bounced back in emphatic fashion from an opening-round 86, rediscovering her rhythm with a 79 highlighted by crisp drives, pinpoint approach shots, and a birdie on the last hole. Despite missed birdie opportunities and several flubbed par putts, the inaugural ICTSI Intercollegiate individual champion stormed from third place to grab a three-stroke lead with a 36-hole total of 165.

Her rally enabled her to overtake Ateneo’s Monique Mendoza, who stumbled with a 91 after an opening 81 to fall to third at 172. Meanwhile, fellow Lady Archer Alexa Dacanay climbed to second place with a 168 after an 81, while Ateneo’s Simi Tinio shot an 85 for 173 and fourth place, followed by Annika Gozum (101-183) and Ava Heredia (86-185), both of UP.

Backed by Donnabel Magsino’s 98, La Salle posted a strong 258 round for a 523 aggregate, opening a commanding 10-shot lead over Ateneo, which struggled to a 269 for a 532 total in team play.

“My tee shots and short game were much better than yesterday, and that really made the difference because driving is so crucial on this course,” said Lua, who birdied No. 2 to start her round and finished strong with another birdie on the 18th after a solid drive, a well-struck 3-wood approach, and a brilliant chip.

Staying composed throughout, the 20-year-old said she plans to stick to her game plan in the next two rounds.

“I’ll continue to play conservatively and as safely as possible,” she said. “To handle the pressure, I just trust my practice and my routine.”

Heredia kept UP in third place with a gutsy bounce-back performance, rebounding from a first-round 99 to an 86 in punishing hot conditions. Her remarkable 13-stroke improvement highlighted both her grit and resilience, as she delivered clutch plays down the stretch to steady the Fighting Maroons’ campaign despite the demanding weather.

The Katipunan-based squad posted a second straight 288 to stay in third place with a 576, while UST and Adamson turned in scores of 344 and 378 for overall tallies of 652 and 743, respectively, with 36 holes to play in the historic competition.