TAGAYTAY CITY — A new era dawned in Philippine collegiate sports on Monday as golf officially debuted in the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP), immediately reigniting the fierce Ateneo de Manila University-De La Salle University rivalry on the fairways of Tagaytay Midlands in the opening round of the inaugural Season 88 golf tournament here.

Ateneo’s Monique Mendoza rebounded from a challenging frontside with a gutsy backside charge, salvaging an 81 to seize the lead in the women’s individual competition as University of the Philippines’ Annika Gozum stumbled with a late bogey, slipping from a share of the lead to solo second with an 82.

La Salle’s Julia Lua, who dominated last year’s inaugural ICTSI Intercollegiate Tournament and powered the Taft-based squad to the team championship, struggled in hot and windy conditions and limped home with an 86 for third place, while teammate Alexa Dacanay turned in an 87, followed by Ateneo’s Simi Tinio with an 88 and La Salle’s Donnabel Magsino with a 92.

Ateneo’s Andie Joson shot a 94, while University of Santo Tomas’ (UST) Deborah Escote had a 96. University of the Philippines’ (UP) Ava Heredia and Ateneo’s Renee Heredia rounded out the Top 10 with 99 and 101, respectively.

In the men’s division, La Salle’s Perry Bucay drained a clutch five-foot birdie putt on No. 17 to finish with a 72 and edge teammate Zachary Castro, who shot a 73, for a one-stroke lead in the individual race. UP’s Joshua Buenaventura and Miggy Roque stayed within striking distance after rounds of 74 and 75, respectively.

La Salle’s Miguel Fusilero carded a 76 to share fifth place with Ateneo’s Glenn Unabia, as the Green Archers seized control of the team standings in the four-to-count, three-to-play format with a 221 aggregate — five strokes ahead of UP, which tallied 226 with Emilio Carpio’s counting with a 77.

However, La Salle was assessed a two-stroke penalty for a uniform infraction, raising the team’s total to 223 and trimming its lead over UP to just three strokes.

Ateneo trailed in third with a 240 total after Juan Escano and Schmuel Tan shot 80 and 84, respectively. UST and Adamson, meanwhile, struggled with team totals of 261 and 370 in the five-school competition presented by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. and supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, Wilson Philippines and Akari.

Bucay credited his approach shots as the key to his strong opening-round surge.

“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,” he said.

Describing the atmosphere of UAAP golf, Bucay said the competition remains intense, especially with players eager to establish themselves.

“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 highly competitive environment, Bucay downplayed the pressure factor.

“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 said.

Played under swirling winds and on sloping fairways with slick greens, the historic debut of golf as a UAAP demonstration sport showcased both elite collegiate talent and the sport’s strong potential to become a permanent fixture in the league.

Instead of the usual roaring UAAP crowds and booming drums, the atmosphere shifted to tense silences before swings, anxious walks along rolling fairways and emotional fist pumps after clutch putts.

The demanding Midlands layout tested patience, shot-making and composure, with every birdie and par carrying added significance as players chased a place in UAAP history.

Mendoza drew first blood in the ladies division, emerging as the tournament’s early individual leader with a 44-37 round marked by two birdies against five bogeys and three double bogeys.