In a surprising turn at the UAAP Season 88 Golf Tournament, La Salle has taken a commanding lead, showcasing their depth and skill.
After a cautious start, the Green Archers and Lady Archers delivered a stellar performance in the second round, solidifying their positions in both the men's and women's competitions.
With 36 holes left in the tournament, La Salle has built a significant advantage, dominating the individual and team standings.
Perry Bucay and Zach Castro led the way for the Green Archers, holding the top two spots in the men's individual rankings with scores of 143 and 145, respectively.
Their consistent play contributed to La Salle's impressive team score of 217 in the four-to-play, three-to-count format tournament.
La Salle's two-day total stands at 440, extending their lead to 26 strokes over the University of the Philippines, which totaled 466 after a 240 round.
Joshua Buenaventura led UP with a 75, maintaining third place in individual standings with a total of 149.
We’re not going to step on the brakes. We’re trying to make a statement here, especially since it’s the first year of UAAP golf.
Perry Bucay
Bucay's performance included two birdies on the back nine, and he noted that while he felt improvements in his game, he still aimed for better performance around the greens.
The newcomer Martin Lu also made his mark with a solid 74, impressing the team with his recent success in junior tournaments.
Ateneo managed to pull closer to UP with a total of 471 after a 231 round, thanks to Glenn Unabia's two-over 74.
In the women's division, La Salle's Julia Lua made a strong comeback, improving from her first-round score of 86 to finish with a 79.
Her performance propelled her to first place with a total of 165, overtaking Ateneo’s Monique Mendoza, who slipped to third after a disappointing 91.
Lua's teammate, Alexa Dacanay, climbed to second place with a total of 168.
The Lady Archers' team score of 258 gave them a 10-shot lead over Ateneo, who struggled to a 269.
My tee shots and short game were much better than yesterday, and that really made the difference.
Julia Lua
The competition remains fierce as the tournament progresses, with UP holding third place in the women's division, thanks to Ava Heredia's strong 86.
With 36 holes remaining, La Salle is poised to maintain their lead in this historic competition.