Bucay fuels La Salle to solo UAAP golf lead
Former national champion Perry Bucay of La Salle birdied the 17th hole on Monday to rescue a level par 72 and be the first-ever men’s individual leader in the UAAP golf tournament that finally got going—although as a demonstration sport in Season 88—at demanding Tagaytay Midlands.
Bucay rolled a five-footer for that two and Zachary Castro checked in with a 73 as the two seasoned campaigners led a 221 aggregate for the Green Archers, who actually had to settle for a three-stroke team competition lead over University of the Philippines after being assessed a two-stroke penalty because of a uniform infraction.
La Salle counted the 76 of Miguel Fusilero, even as Joshua Buenaventura and Miggy Roque signed for a 74 and 75, respectively, to tug at the coattails of the two Archers while boosting the Maroons to a 226 after the 77 of Emilio Carpio in the four-to-play, three-to-count format.
The first round standings actually took some of the limelight away from the fierce La Salle-Ateneo rivalry, as the Blue Eagles labored hard with a tough start, led by the 80 and 84 of Juan Escano and Schmuel Tan, respectively, that made up the bulk of an opening 240.
It was a Lady Eagle who took command in women’s individual play, though, as Monique Mendoza shot an 81 to lead UP’s Annika Gozum by a shot, with La Salle’s Julia Lua ballooning to an 86 to be five shots behind.
“If I didn’t have my approach shots working today, I probably wouldn’t have posted a consistent score,” Pucay said. “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.”
This sport played to a very different atmosphere UAAP fans are used to, as there are no roaring crowds, no cheering squads banging on drums. Instead, it was dead silent all round and Bucay and Castro being used to such atmospheres in big tournaments certainly helped the La Salle cause in Day 1.
