TAGAYTAY – From the opening drive to the final putt, De La Salle University turned the inaugural UAAP Season 88 Golf Tournament into a week-long showcase of championship culture, depth and dominance, sweeping all four titles in resounding fashion at Tagaytay Midlands here on Thursday.
Backed by a program built on discipline, continuity and a relentless pursuit of excellence, the Green Archers and Lady Archers lived up to the immense pre-tournament hype and perhaps even exceeded it, capturing the men’s and women’s individual championships as well as both team crowns in a masterclass that could spark a new era for golf as a demonstration sport in the UAAP calendar.
But while La Salle stood tallest on the podium, the rest of the field left Tagaytay with a growing fire of their own. University of the Philippines, Ateneo, UST and Adamson vowed to rebuild early, sharpen their lineups and strike back next season after witnessing firsthand the level required to compete with the Green Archers’ powerhouse program.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Leading La Salle’s charge was Perry Bucay, who shrugged off an early surge by UP’s Joshua Buenaventura before regaining control midway through the final round to complete a seven-stroke triumph in the men’s individual competition with a 74.
Buenaventura briefly ignited hopes of a dramatic comeback with two birdies against a bogey through the first four holes while Bucay stumbled with a bogey-double bogey stretch starting on No. 4. What had been a three-shot cushion suddenly became a one-shot deficit for the La Salle ace.
But champions respond under pressure, and Bucay did exactly that.
He steadied himself with two birdies against a bogey over the next five holes for a 37 at the turn, while Buenaventura unraveled with back-to-back double bogeys from No. 8 for a 39. The momentum swing proved decisive.
Bucay calmly navigated the back nine with a 37 to finish with a two-over card and a four-day aggregate of five-over 293, sealing the victory and the gold medal.
Buenaventura settled for silver at 300 after a 78, while another La Salle standout, Zach Castro, secured bronze at 304 following an 81.
“It feels ecstatic. We’re all very happy to win the first-ever UAAP golf title,” said Bucay, his voice hoarse from cheering for his teammates.
“I just focused on staying steady. On the final day, a lot of players get tired, so I had to keep my stamina and focus. It’s draining not just physically, but mentally as well,” he added.
In the end, the grind was worth it as they made history in the event presented by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, Wilson Philippines, and Akari.
“Hopefully, we can sustain this success. UAAP is different because it’s the highest collegiate sports organization, so the recognition and support are on another level,” Bucay said, while also crediting their stint in the ICTSI Intercollegiate Tournament last year.
“We’re very grateful for the IIT because it prepared us well. There’s a lot that goes into getting a team ready for a week-long golf tournament, and having gone through that before helped us. We’re thankful for the resources and support from our school, and that definitely prepared us for this week.”
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
The women’s division produced another La Salle showcase as Julia Lua survived a fierce all-day duel with teammate Alexa Dacanay to complete a dominant 1-2 finish for the Lady Archers.
Lua delivered clutch birdies and pars down the stretch to rescue an 80 and finish with a 330 total, defeating Dacanay by four strokes after the latter, who tied Lua with seven holes to play, hobbled at the finish, fumbling with two bogeys and a double bogey on the last hole for an 83 and 334. Ateneo’s Monique Mendoza, who led in the first round, wound up third at 343 following an 88.
Under the weight of history, the glare of cameras, and the watchful eyes of the gallery, Lua never blinked.
“I’m really proud of this win, and it’s such an honor to become one of the winners of the first UAAP golf tournament,” said the sophomore Entrepreneurship student after steering her team to a historic championship triumph.
But the road to victory was anything but easy.
With the title hanging in the balance entering the final three holes, Lua admitted the pressure was impossible to ignore. The crowd had grown larger, cameras followed every swing, and the knowledge that her teammate was right behind her only heightened the tension.
“There’s a lot of pressure coming into the last three holes, especially with a lot of people watching and the cameras – and knowing that my teammate was behind me,” she said.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
Yet amid the noise and spotlight, Lua delivered the shot that defined the tournament.
Facing a delicate situation on No. 16 with little green to work with, she calmly executed a high chip shot that bounced perfectly into the hole for a clutch birdie – a moment that all but sealed the championship.
“I had little green to work with, and I hit a high chip shot, and it bounced into the hole,” Lua recalled of the insurance shot that shifted momentum firmly in her favor.
The pressure, however, never overshadowed her perspective. Even as the title neared, Lua remained grounded in the collective effort that carried the team to the brink.
“But whatever the outcome, I would be very proud of the team, regardless,” she said.
Having dominated the ICTSI Intercollegiate Tournament last year, Lua noted that competing on the UAAP stage brought a different level of intensity – and visibility.
“It’s more competitive – and more media,” she said with a laugh.
Still, when the defining stretch arrived, Lua relied on the same thing that built her confidence long before the galleries and cameras arrived.
“I just shook it off in the last three holes and trusted the hard work of the team,” she said.
And when the spotlight burned brightest, Lua shone brightest with it.
With Janine Yusay contributing a 105, La Salle amassed a final-round 268 and a four-day total of 1056 to storm to the women’s team championship by 21 shots over Ateneo, which finished with 1077 after a 274 behind rounds of 88 from Mendoza, and 92 and 94 from Simi Tinio and Andie Joson, respectively.
UP placed third at 1138 after a 283 built around Ava Heredia and Annika Gozum’s pair of 91s and Katrisse Datoc’s 101. UST and Adamson wound up fourth and fifth with 320-1289 and 365-1478, respectively.
The La Salle men were every bit as imposing.
Jacob Cajita and Martin Lu backed Bucay’s 74 with 75 and 76, respectively, as the Green Archers closed with a 225 for an overwhelming 898 total – 30 strokes clear of UP’s 928.
Miggy Roque shot a 75 for the Fighting Maroons, while Buenaventura had a 78, and Emilio Carpio added an 83 in UP’s final-round 236.
Ateneo took third at 938 after a 234 behind Schmuel Tan’s 74, a 79 from Mich Romero, and an 81 from either Juan Escano or Glenn Unabia. UST and Adamson finished with 262-1005 and 367-1477, respectively.
Yet beyond the trophies and statistics, the tournament may ultimately be remembered for what it revealed about the future of collegiate golf.
La Salle’s commanding sweep underscored not just elite talent, but the strength of a sports program capable of developing depth, composure, and championship mentality across multiple divisions. And with rival schools already plotting their revenge and promising heavier preparation for next season, the inaugural UAAP golf tournament may have just ignited the sport’s next great collegiate rivalry.
Meanwhile, host UST will hold a formal closing ceremony on Friday (May 15) at the UST Quadricentennial Pavilion starting at 4:30 p.m., with the main program set to begin at 6 p.m.
