Can the next Filipino Olympic golfer come from the UAAP?

For decades, young golf players ply their trade outside the UAAP, finding their own spotlight in intercollegiate circuits and country club fairways. 

But now, the country’s premier varsity league could become the next training ground for Philippine golf’s Olympic ambitions.

In UAAP Season 88, golf officially teed off as a demonstration sport, marking a historic expansion. For league officials, the move is about far more than adding another competition to the calendar.

“Golf would be the one that would easily be feasible,” La Salle’s athletic director and UAAP board member Nong Calanog told Rappler, discussing the league’s aim to continue helping the country develop its national sports pool.

SWING. Julia Lua leads La Salle’s dominant run in the inaugural UAAP women’s golf individual competition.

In recent years, Filipino golfers have made a mark on the Olympic stage. In the 2024 Paris Olympics, Bianca Pagdanganan and Dottie Ardina represented the Philippines in golf. 

Yuka Saso and Juvic Pagunsan, along with Pagdanganan, played for the Philippines in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. In 2016, Miguel Tabuena also donned the country’s colors in RIo de Janeiro. 

CHALLENGE. UP’s Joshua Buenaventura settles for a runner-up finish after putting pressure on eventual UAAP men’s golf champion Perry Bucay of La Salle.

Golf debuted in the UAAP as a demonstration sport from May 11 to 14, bringing in five schools for Season 88 at the Tagaytay Midlands. It’s the start of a three-year partnership with Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. (PGTI), organizers of the Philippine Golf Tour and Junior PGT. 

It’s also the first of a three-year deal aimed at building a developmental path for collegiate golfers in the country. 

Before golf’s inclusion in the UAAP, ICTSI Intercollegiate Tour has been the schools’ main tournament. 

“It actually started with PSC (Philippine Sports Commission) Chairman Pato Gregorio. They requested all leagues and sports organizations to see if we can help with the national sports program,” Calanog said, noting that most UAAP schools have already established a golf club in their universities. “The board sat down and looked at what each of the schools had. Among the sports, golf came out.”

“Tournaments in the country have them for junior players and then the professional ones. Now, the UAAP has given collegiate players another chance to develop their games.”

CHAMP. La Salle’s Perry Bucay completes a seven-stroke triumph to rule UAAP men’s golf.

The four-day tournament included La Salle, Ateneo, University of the Philippines, University of Santo Tomas, and Adamson. 

La Salle, known for its comprehensive golf program, topped both the men’s and women’s divisions in Season 88. 

“We’ve been waiting for this tournament to happen,” La Salle coach Toffer Arevalo said. “This is one huge step for the golfing community in the Philippines, because without this, I don’t think we’re going to move on to something bigger.”

“From here on, there are a lot of talents that you’ll be seeing. There’s a lot of growth that you’re going to be seeing from the schools and from the development of each school itself.”

REPRESENT. La Salle, Ateneo, and UP emerge as the top three teams in UAAP women’s golf action.

La Salle’s Perry Bucay and Julia Lua won the MVP honors in the men’s and women’s tournaments, respectively.

UP finished second in the men’s division, followed by Ateneo, UST, and Adamson. In the women’s tournament, Ateneo took the silver as UP, UST, and Adamson came in next. 

For the next iterations, players hope the tournament will explore other formats like match play or stroke play. This season, teams competed in a 72-hole aggregate gross stroke play format spread across four rounds, with each round consisting of 18 holes.

“It all depends on the vision for next season,” Calanog said. “We will assess everything, including what would be the best for the country in terms of golf.”

Calanog added that all eight of the UAAP participating schools have committed to field a team in Season 89 next year.

“In the end, we want to give our country a boost,” he said. “Perhaps, we can add high school teams soon. Everything is on the table for now.” – Rappler.com