TAGAYTAY – What was expected to be a tightly contested battle in the inaugural UAAP Season 88 Golf Tournament is quickly turning into a La Salle showcase.
After using the opening day to gauge both the competition and the demanding Midlands layout, the Green Archers and Lady Archers unleashed commanding second-round performances that put them firmly on track for a potential sweep of both the men’s and women’s divisions.
With 36 holes still left in the 72-hole championship, La Salle has already carved out a 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, holding the 1-2 spots in the men’s individual standings after rounds of 71 and 72, respectively, for 36-hole totals of 143 and 145.
Their steady play also bolstered La Salle’s team campaign, with junior golf standout Martin Lu making his debut with a 74 that counted toward 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 commanding 26-shot advantage over the University of the Philippines, which posted a 466 after a 240, anchored by Joshua Buenaventura’s 75, Emilio Carpio’s 81, and Miggy Roque’s 84.
Buenaventura remained in third in the individual standings with 149, while Ateneo’s Glenn Unabia carded a 74 for a 150 total. Carpio stood at fifth with 158.
Bucay, who closed with two back-nine birdies, drew inspiration from his teammates’ strong start and continued to attack both the course and the field with a near-flawless round.
Despite the commanding lead, La Salle is far from easing up.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“We’re not going to step on the brakes,” Bucay said of La Salle’s mindset 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 leaned on his strong tee shots and approach play, 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 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 Glenn Unabia posted a two-over round, Schmuel Tan chipped in a 75, and Mich Romero added an 82. UST and Adamson took the next two spots in the five-team field with 512 and 737, respectively.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
The Lady Archers were just as relentless, mounting their own second-round surge 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, precise approach shots, and a birdie on the final hole. Despite missed birdie chances and several missed 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 allowed her to overtake Ateneo’s Monique Mendoza, who stumbled with a 91 after an opening 81 and dropped to third at 172. Meanwhile, fellow Lady Archer Alexa Dacanay moved up to second with a 168 after an 81, while Ateneo’s Simi Tinio shot an 85 for 173 in fourth, followed by Annika Gozum (101-183) and Ava Heredia (86-185), both from UP.
Backed by Donnabel Magsino’s 98, La Salle posted a strong 258 for a 523 aggregate, opening a 10-shot lead over Ateneo, which struggled to a 269 for a 532 total in team play.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“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 18 after a solid drive, a well-struck 3-wood approach, and a sharp 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 13-stroke improvement highlighted both grit and resilience, as she delivered clutch plays down the stretch to steady the Fighting Maroons’ campaign.
The Katipunan-based squad posted a second straight 288 to stay in third with a 576, while UST and Adamson tallied 652 and 743, respectively, with 36 holes remaining in the historic competition.
