De La Salle University’s Perry Bucay delivered a clutch finish to take the opening-round lead in the men’s division of the inaugural UAAP Season 88 Golf Tournament on Monday at Tagaytay Midlands.
Bucay drained a crucial five-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole to complete a one-under-par 72, edging teammate Zachary Castro, who carded a 73, in the individual standings.
University of the Philippines’ Joshua Buenaventura stayed within striking distance with a 74, while teammate Miggy Roque shot a 75.
La Salle’s Miguel Fusilero posted a 76 to tie for fifth with Ateneo’s Glenn Unabia as the Green Archers established an early grip on the team competition.
Using the four-to-count, three-to-play format, La Salle assembled a 221 total, five strokes ahead of UP, which finished with a 226 behind counting rounds from Buenaventura, Roque and Emilio Carpio’s 77.
Ateneo stood in third with a 240 after Juan Escano and Schmuel Tan submitted rounds of 80 and 84, respectively. UST and Adamson struggled with totals of 261 and 370.
Bucay credited his sharp approach game for his steady opening-round performance.
“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,” Bucay said.
The La Salle standout described the atmosphere of the UAAP golf debut as highly competitive, with players eager to leave their mark in the league’s newest sport.
“It’s the usual tense atmosphere you get in intercollegiate tournaments, but now that it’s the UAAP, I think everybody wants to make a name for themselves,” he said.
Despite the pressure surrounding the historic event, Bucay said the Green Archers remained composed because of their preparation.
“Pressure? We’re used to that at DLSU. It wasn’t much of a challenge today because we had a solid plan and prepared well. All we had to do was trust our preparation, and that really helped us deal with the pressure,” he added.
Golf officially debuted in the UAAP as a demonstration sport this season, with the opening round showcasing elite collegiate talent under difficult playing conditions at the Midlands course.
The sloping fairways, slick greens and strong winds challenged players throughout the day as schools battled for early momentum in the historic tournament.
