PAMPANGA – There’s no better way to cap an inaugural tournament than by pitting the three best players from the first three legs in a head-to-head duel – turning Round 4 of the ICTSI Intercollegiate Tournament into a thrilling test of will and character.
This Sunday, Aug. 17, the men’s division resumes at Beverly Place Golf Club in Pampanga, where collegiate golf’s rising stars are expected to clash in a high-stakes battle that could shape the future of Philippine golf.
Leading the charge are Sean Granada (CSB-1), Zachary Castro (La Salle-1), and Joshua Buenaventura (UP-1) – all gunning not only for a second leg win but also for the critical momentum heading into the grand finals set for Sept. 23-25 at Splendido Taal Golf Club.
The reward isn’t just a spot in the finals. It’s the confidence, bragging rights and the honor of setting the pace as the first-ever ICTSI Intercollegiate champion.
Granada stormed to victory in Round 2 at Splendido Taal and was runner-up in Round 3 at Pradera Verde, while Castro bounced back to dominate the Pradera leg after placing second in Round 1 at Royal Northwoods. Both players sit atop the leaderboard with 27 points each.
Buenaventura, who shone in Round 1 but skipped the second leg, finished third at Pradera Verde, collecting 25 points – just two off the leaders.
His UP-1 teammate Miggy Roque follows with 20 points in fourth, while Rans Balay-odao of UC-1 (University of the Cordilleras) rounds out the Top 5 with 16 points.
The team competition, played in a three-to-play, two-to-count format, adds another strategic layer. UP-1, also anchored by Emilio Carpio and Roque, currently leads with 30 points after winning at Royal Northwoods and Pradera Verde.
CSB-1, which includes David Guangco and C’zedrick Sulaik, is hot on their heels with 25 points. La Salle-1, powered by Jose Lorenzo Flores and Miguel Fusilero, sits just behind at 24 points.
Further down the leaderboard are DLSU-2 (Arvin Ong, Lucas Aldeguer, Jet Ang) with 16 points, and Ateneo-1 (Schmuel Tan, Emilio Curran, Christian Romero) with 14.
Round 4 will be pivotal – not just for those leading, but for the rest of the field to mount a last-ditch rally and clinch a place in the finals of the Tour co-developed by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and the Philippine Golf Foundation.
Meanwhile, the ladies’ competition resumes with its Round 4 on Aug. 24 at Eastridge Golf Club in Binangonan, Rizal.
All eyes are on Julia Lua (La Salle-1), who is expected to return after missing the Caliraya Springs and Pradera Verde legs due to health issues. Lua dominated the pre-launch at Sherwood Hills and Round 1 at Royal Northwoods, but her absence opened the door for Addie Manhit (UP-1) to seize the individual lead with 27 points, backed by two runner-up finishes and a win at Caliraya.
Not far behind is Simi Tinio (Ateneo-1) with 18 points, while Lua is tied in third with Shane Tan (Ateneo-2), who topped the Pradera leg, both with 15 points.
Just like the men’s side, the women’s Round 4 is expected to deliver a fierce showdown – where every swing and shot will matter.
