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 sweeping 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.
Bucay, Castro show way
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 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 edge over 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 at third in individual play with 149, while Ateneo’s Glenn Unabia carded a 74 for 150, and Carpio stood at fifth with a 158.
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 from an opening-round 86, firing a 79. 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.
She leapt past 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 for fourth, 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.
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