La Salle dominates inaugural UAAP golf tourney

Julia Lua studies her putting line. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

TAGAYTAY—La Salle stamped its class on the inaugural UAAP Season 88 Golf Tournament, sweeping all four titles on Thursday behind commanding performances from its men’s and women’s teams at Tagaytay Midlands.

The Green Archers and Lady Archers captured both team championships and individual crowns in the demonstration event.

Leading La Salle’s charge was Perry Bucay, who recovered from an early challenge by Joshua Buenaventura of University of the Philippines to secure the men’s individual title.

Bucay carded a final-round 74 for a four-day aggregate of five-over-par 293, seven strokes ahead of Buenaventura, who finished at 300 after a closing 78. Another La Salle golfer, Zach Castro, placed third at 304.

“It feels ecstatic. We’re all very happy to win the first-ever UAAP golf title,” Bucay said.

Four-stroke win

Buenaventura briefly seized momentum early in the final round after birdies on two of the first four holes, while Bucay struggled with a bogey-double bogey stretch. But Bucay steadied himself with two birdies over the next five holes before pulling away on the back nine.

“I just focused on staying steady,” Bucay said. “On the final day, a lot of players get tired, so I had to keep my stamina and focus.”

The women’s division also belonged to La Salle as Julia Lua outlasted teammate Alexa Dacanay for the individual championship.

Lua fired an 80 to finish with a 330 total, four strokes ahead of Dacanay, who shot an 83 for 334 after faltering late. Monique Mendoza of Ateneo de Manila University finished third at 343.

Behind Lua, Dacanay and Janine Yusay, the Lady Archers totaled 1,056 to win the women’s team title by 21 strokes over Ateneo’s 1,077.

The La Salle men were equally dominant.

Jacob Cajita and Martin Lu backed Bucay with rounds of 75 and 76, respectively, as the Green Archers closed with a 225 for an overall 898 total, 30 strokes clear of UP’s 928.

Ateneo placed third at 938, while University of Santo Tomas and Adamson University finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

Despite La Salle’s dominance, rival schools vowed to regroup and strengthen their programs for next season after witnessing the level required to compete with the Green Archers’ powerhouse lineup.