PAMPANGA — There’s no better way to cap an inaugural tournament than by pitting the three best players from the first three legs in a head-to-head duel — turning Round 4 of the ICTSI Intercollegiate Tournament into a thrilling test of will and character.

This Sunday, the men’s division resumes at Beverly Place Golf Club in Pampanga, where collegiate golf’s rising stars are expected to clash in a high-stakes battle that could shape the future of Philippine golf.

Leading the charge are Sean Granada (Saint Benilde-1), Zachary Castro (La Salle-1), and Joshua Buenaventura (UP-1) — all gunning not only for a second leg win but also for the critical momentum heading into the grand finals set for 23 to 25 September at Splendido Taal Golf Club.

The reward isn’t just a spot in the finals. It’s the confidence, bragging rights and the honor of setting the pace as the first-ever ICTSI Intercollegiate champion.

Granada stormed to victory in Round 2 at Splendido Taal and was runner-up in Round 3 at Pradera Verde, while Castro bounced back to dominate the Pradera leg after placing second in Round 1 at Royal Northwoods. Both players sit atop the leaderboard with 27 points each.

Buenaventura, who shone in Round 1 but skipped the second leg, finished third at Pradera Verde, collecting 25 points — just two off the leaders.

His UP-1 teammate Miggy Roque follows with 20 points in fourth, while Rans Balay-odao of UC-1 (University of the Cordilleras) rounds out the Top 5 with 16 points.

But it’s more than just an individual shootout.

With all three top individual contenders representing the current Top 3 schools in the team standings, Round 4 is shaping up to be a fierce dual-battle for supremacy — both as individuals and as cohesive squads.

The team competition, played in a three-to-play, two-to-count format, adds another strategic layer. UP-1, also anchored by Emilio Carpio and Roque, currently leads with 30 points after winning at Royal Northwoods and Pradera Verde.

Saint Benilde-1, which includes David Guangco and C’zedrick Sulaik, is hot on their heels with 25 points. La Salle-1, powered by Jose Lorenzo Flores and Miguel Fusilero, sits just behind at 24 points.

Further down the leaderboard are La Salle-2 (Arvin Ong, Lucas Aldeguer, Jet Ang) with 16 points, and Ateneo-1 (Schmuel Tan, Emilio Curran, Christian Romero) with 14.

Round 4 will be pivotal — not just for those leading, but for the rest of the field to mount a last-ditch rally and clinch a place in the finals of the Tour co-developed by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. and the Philippine Golf Foundation.

Meanwhile, the ladies’ competition resumes with its Round 4 on 24 August at Eastridge Golf Club in Binangonan, Rizal.

All eyes are on Julia Lua (La Salle-1), who is expected to return after missing the Caliraya Springs and Pradera Verde legs due to health issues. Lua dominated the pre-launch at Sherwood Hills and Round 1 at Royal Northwoods, but her absence opened the door for Addie Manhit (UP-1) to seize the individual lead with 27 points, backed by two runner-up finishes and a win at Caliraya.

Not far behind is Simi Tinio (Ateneo-1) with 18 points, while Lua is tied in third with Shane Tan (Ateneo-2), who topped the Pradera leg, both with 15 points.