Ateneo and La Salle showcased their competitive spirit in the opening round of the inaugural UAAP Season 88 Golf Tournament at Tagaytay Midlands. This marked golf's debut as a UAAP sport, reigniting the storied rivalry between the two schools.
Ateneo's Monique Mendoza emerged as the leader in the women's individual competition, overcoming a tough front nine to finish with an 81. University of the Philippines' Annika Gozum fell to second place with an 82 after a late bogey.
La Salle's Julia Lua, last year's ICTSI Intercollegiate champion, struggled with an 86, placing her third. Teammate Alexa Dacanay followed closely with an 87, while Ateneo's Simi Tinio shot an 88.
In the men's division, La Salle's Perry Bucay took the lead with a 72, narrowly ahead of teammate Zachary Castro at 73. UP's Joshua Buenaventura and Miggy Roque remained competitive with scores of 74 and 75, respectively.
La Salle led the team standings with a total of 221, but a two-stroke penalty for a uniform infraction reduced their score to 223, putting them just three strokes ahead of UP.
Ateneo finished in third with a score of 240, while UST and Adamson trailed with totals of 261 and 370.
If I didn’t have my approach shots working today, I probably wouldn’t have posted a consistent score. I struggled a bit with my putting, so I was fortunate that I hit good tee shots and was able to place my approach shots very close to the pin.
Perry Bucay
The competitive atmosphere of UAAP golf was palpable, with players eager to make their mark. Bucay noted the intensity of the competition and the pressure that comes with it.
Despite the challenges, Mendoza was pleased with her performance, especially after rallying back on the back nine with a closing score highlighted by two birdies.
Ateneo currently leads the women's team competition with a score of 263, just ahead of La Salle at 265, setting the stage for an exciting rivalry as the tournament continues.