De La Salle University and Ateneo de Manila University bring their iconic rivalry beyond the confines of the hardcourt and onto the fairways as they headline the kickoff of the inaugural ICTSI Intercollegiate Golf Tour today at the Royal Northwoods Golf and Country Club in San Rafael, Bulacan.

Ateneo, which skipped the event’s soft-launch last month, is now fully committed, fielding a deep and talented roster to challenge La Salle in a fresh arena of school pride, strategy and sportsmanship.

The IIT, developed by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. and the Philippine Golf Foundation, aims to reshape collegiate golf by offering a competitive yet development-focused platform for student-athletes transitioning from junior play.

Though absent the roar of pep squads, the Tour retains the intensity of school rivalries, where each swing carries not just personal ambition but also the collective pride of one’s alma mater.

Beyond competition, the tournament is rooted in identity, culture and the drive to represent and win for one’s school, emphasizing team spirit as much as individual excellence.

The IIT serves as a bridge between the junior golf circuit and elite amateur and professional ranks, offering a national stage for rising talents and opening much-needed grassroots-to-pro pipeline in Philippine golf.

Open to both school teams and individual entries, the Tour encourages wide participation from various regions and collegiate leagues, creating a unified platform for golf development.

The event uses a four-round stroke play format, with the three-to-play, two-to-count team scoring system that highlights depth and consistency, where every shot can sway the team standings.

Ranking points are awarded to the Top 8 teams and individual players in each division: 15, 12 and 10 points for the top three, followed by 8, 6, 4, 2 and 1 for 4th to 8th placers.

Team and individual competition scores are based on the best two rounds out of four, with the top three teams and top three individuals (including independent entries) advancing to the grand finals.

The Tour unfolds across several premier courses in Luzon. Round 2 takes place on 27 July at Splendido Taal (men), Round 3 on 9 August at Caliraya Springs (women), and Round 3 continues at Pradera Verde on 11 August (men and women).