Lua cruises, Granada rises as varsity golf takes spotlight in IIT Finals

1 of 2

LIPA, Batangas – Julia Lua of La Salle-1 picked up right where she left off while College of St. Benilde-1’s Sean Granada recovered from a last-hole miscue to edge La Salle-1’s Zachary Castro in sudden death as they delivered contrasting victories in the Finals of the inaugural ICTSI Intercollegiate Tour, capping a landmark week for collegiate golf Thursday at the Summit Point Golf and Country Club here.

While Lua coasted to a four-stroke victory over CSB-1’s Natasha Bantug despite a 96 for a 181, Granada squandered a three-shot lead with three holes to play but regained his composure when it mattered most, clinching the crown with a routine par on the first playoff hole at the par-4 18th.

Granada, who dominated the Splendido Taal leg under stormy conditions, had earlier three-putted the final hole to finish with a 73, enabling Castro, who drilled in a 12-foot birdie putt for a 71, to force a playoff at 146.

In sudden death, Castro – the Pradera Verde leg winner – hit an errant drive and reached the green in four. He then missed a four-foot bogey putt before picking up Granada’s marker, effectively conceding the match.

Granada, who had putted for birdie from the same spot in regulation, rolled his putt to within a foot of the cup to seal the win.

La Salle-2’s Arvin Ong also rallied with a 73 to claim the bronze at 151, edging out UP-1’s Miggy Roque and La Salle-1’s Miguel Fusilero, who faltered with rounds of 75 and 76, respectively, in the countback.

“This win definitely means a lot – being one of the first winners of the ICTSI Tour is truly an honor. I’m proud to represent my school and bring its name to the top of the podium,” said Lua after sealing her victory and leading her team to the championship.

While she remains focused on her collegiate career, Lua hasn’t ruled out a professional future. “There are no plans to turn pro just yet, but the doors aren’t closed,” she said.

Holding a commanding lead heading into the final round, Lua said she simply tried to adjust to the hot conditions and enjoy the game. Still, she admitted she wasn’t at her best due to the searing heat.

“I was really tired,” said Lua, who picked up golf at age 12, inspired by her father. Despite stepping away from the sport during the pandemic, she returned with her swing and drive intact – as evidenced by her successful run and leadership in the inaugural tournament.

“It’s been a long journey. I put in a lot of preparation for this, especially over the last month as we geared up for the Finals,” she said. “Preparation is everything in tournaments like this. You need a strong foundation to perform well.”

As the driving force behind La Salle’s sweep of the ladies’ division titles, Lua summed it up simply: “It feels fulfilling to win both.”

On the men’s side, Granada emerged victorious after a gritty final round that tested not just his skills, but also his composure.

“Probably the pressure,” Granada replied when asked what stood out in his game during the final round. “It was a big thing for me. I used it as motivation to stay focused – hole by hole, shot by shot.”

However, the toll of the intense conditions eventually crept in. “In the last few holes, I really struggled with my mental game – I think because I was exhausted,” he admitted.

Despite a three-putt in regulation that nearly cost him the win, Granada dug deep and delivered a strong finish in sudden death to secure the title.

He credited his team, coaches, and family for their unwavering support and hinted at greater goals ahead. “I definitely plan to turn pro in the future,” he said. “It feels amazing to have my name among the first winners of the ICTSI Tour – it’s a true honor.”

Meanwhile, Summit Point Golf and Country Club general manager Vic de Guzman encouraged all players to continue training and competing. He announced that Summit Point will be open to student-athletes for a discounted rate of only P800, provided they secure certification or endorsement from their respective athletic directors or schools as preparation for the upcoming IIT editions.

After days of rain and stormy conditions that threatened to derail the championship, the sun finally broke through, bathing the par-72 course in light and setting the stage for a grand finale. Although the adverse weather had trimmed the scheduled three-round Finals to just 36 holes, it did little to diminish the event’s impact that unfolded on a softened but well-maintained Robert Trent Jones Jr.-designed layout.

The reduced format only raised the stakes, and in this kind of test, Lua and Granada emerged as the brightest stars – albeit in vastly different fashions.

For Lua, it was dominance from the get-go. The winner of the Royal Northwoods leg established a commanding eight-stroke lead early and never looked back, leveraging her consistent ball-striking and poise to build a cushion too wide for the field to challenge.

Despite her final round 96, Lua completed her wire-to-wire victory, culminating in a four-stroke romp over Bantug in an emphatic statement of supremacy in the women’s individual division.

Bantug finished with a 92 for second with 185 while Lua’s teammate Janine Yusay took the bronze with a 191 after a 97.

Granada, on the other hand, relied on his steady, consistent play to quickly take control after trailing UP-1 Emilio Carpio by one stroke after first 18 holes. He turned in a gutsy one-birdie, one-bogey card on the front nine to seize the lead.

Carpio, of UP-1, also posted one birdie against a bogey through the first four holes to stay in front. However, he fumbled with three bogeys over a four-hole stretch starting at No. 5, slipping two shots behind after a 39.

Down by three with three holes to play, Castro birdied Nos. 16 and 18 to force a playoff, capitalizing on Granada’s late collapse. Granada’s first putt from the edge of the green on the final hole failed to climb the uphill slope, and he needed two more strokes to finish, watching in frustration.

But his playoff triumph turned frustration into jubilation, though it wasn’t enough to lift Team CSB to a podium finish – just before a heavy downpour fell, as if blessing the milestone tournament.

La Salle-1 capped the Taft-based school’s domination of the milestone event as Castro and Fusilero, who shot a 76, combined for a 147 to clinch the team title with a 36-hole total of 297 – seven strokes ahead of early leader UP-1.

UP-1, which led by two after the opening round, stumbled after Carpio ballooned to an 82 and finished with a 156. Along with Roque’s 75, UP-1 totaled a 304. La Salle-2 secured the bronze at 307 behind Ong’s 73 and Jet Ang’s 77, edging CSB-1 by one.

CSB-1 faltered with a 154 for a 308, highlighted by Granada’s 73 and David Guangko’s 81.

While Lua’s victory was a masterclass in control, Granada’s was a lesson in composure under fire – both made more meaningful by the testing conditions the course presented. Rain-softened fairways demanded precision on every shot, while subtle breaks on Summit Point’s greens rewarded only the sharpest of putters.

More than just individual and team achievements, the event marked a turning point for college golf in the country. The IIT, sponsored by ICTSI, has given varsity players – long overshadowed and often under-resourced — a platform to be seen, celebrated and scouted. It’s a vital bridge between the amateur ranks and potential professional careers, and the Finals proved the talent is there, ready for the spotlight.

The Tour’s emphasis on team and individual play also fostered camaraderie and competitive spirit, creating an environment that mirrors the intensity and demands of the professional circuit. For Lua, Granada, and others who made the cut from grueling eliminations, this was more than just a tournament – it was a career-defining opportunity.