Eleven varsity teams are set to compete in the inaugural ICTSI Intercollegiate Tour — a landmark tournament that aims to merge school spirit, athlete development, and elite-level golf under one unified platform.
“This is more than collaboration – it’s a shared vision to elevate the sport, nurture talent, and weave golf into the collegiate athletic fabric,” said Arsenic Laurel, president of the Philippine Golf Foundation (PGF), during the event’s official launch at Solaire Entertainment City on Tuesday. The PGF is partnering with Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. (PGTI) to organize the tour.
The PGF has long championed intercollegiate golf, promoting discipline, sportsmanship, and healthy competition. Meanwhile, PGTI has played a key role in building the country’s professional and junior circuits — helping raw talent blossom into champions.
“This tour fills the gap at the college level,” said PGTI general manager Colo Ventosa. “It offers student-athletes a structured, competitive platform to grow their game while staying in school. Ultimately, we aim to make collegiate golf an official varsity sport and integrate it into leagues like the UAAP and NCAA.”
“Our goal is simple: to establish collegiate golf as a recognized, school-based varsity sport. We want more schools to develop golf programs and eventually integrate the sport into major leagues like the UAAP and NCAA. This tour goes beyond competition — it’s about growth, discipline, and creating opportunities,” she added.
Set to tee off on June 16 at Sherwood Hills Golf Club in Cavite, the tour will feature multiple legs held at some of the country’s premier championship courses. The competition will follow a stroke-play format, with each three-player team counting the best two scores. Individual honors will also be awarded in both the men’s and women’s divisions.
The format is designed to reward consistency and team depth — essential qualities in building sustainable collegiate golf programs.
Among the participating schools are longtime collegiate rivals La Salle and Ateneo, along with College of St. Benilde, La Salle-Dasmariñas, FEATI University, Lyceum, Mapua, National U, UP, UST, and the University of the Cordilleras.
Team captains have expressed excitement and optimism ahead of the tournament. Some see it as a stepping stone to professional golf, while others view it as an opportunity to gain valuable experience and national exposure.
“We expect this to be one of the best collegiate golf events,” said La Salle’s Perry Bucay, crediting ICTSI and PGTI for their organization. “It boosts competition and prepares players for pro-level tournaments. We’re focusing more now on short game and strategy.”
Ateneo’s Paqo Barro welcomed the increase in playing opportunities: “It’s exciting to have more events and scrimmages. Everyone is training hard, and we’re eager to see how teams match up.”
UST’s Hero Ang highlighted their preparations: “We’ve been training for two years. The competition will be intense, especially with strong teams like La Salle and Ateneo.”
College of St. Benilde co-captain Sean Granada shared his enthusiasm: “This is a great opportunity — challenging but fun with many teams involved.”
His teammate, Amiel Tanjuakio, emphasized their hard work: “We’ve been putting in weekend work both on the range and course. It’s a great platform to showcase skills.”
Mapua’s Edrian Mangabay called the tournament a milestone for their program: “We’re proud to represent our school for the first time in an official golf tournament. It’s a big step in growing our golf program.”
From FEATI University, Samuel King Sagaral expressed hopes for the event’s continuity: “This gives college players more avenues to pursue their passion. I hope it lasts,” he said.
UP’s Joshua Buenaventura and Emilio Carpio both praised the tour’s impact on team development and consistency: “We practice individually and hold team sessions. Tryouts for new members are also planned,” they said.
Representing Baguio, UC’s Ranz Louie Balay-odao noted the opportunity to compete beyond their region: “We’re excited to compete outside our region. It’s a great platform to improve and gain exposure.”
La Salle-Dasmariñas’ Jose Audi Espiritu pointed to the tour’s broader impact: “It fosters camaraderie and could lead to more Filipino golfers competing abroad,” said Espiritu.
Finally, Enderun Colleges’ Kristiana Herrera summed up the team’s approach: “We’re here for the experience and exposure. Representing Enderun for the first time is already a win,” she said.
