Red-hot Go on a roll, conquers Pradera

LUBAO, Pampanga — One week, Lloyd Go conquered the mountains. The next, he mastered the plains.

From the punishing slopes and severe elevation changes of Pinewoods to the sprawling, wind-swept Arayat course of Pradera Verde Golf and Country Club, Go proved that champions aren’t defined by the courses they play, but by how quickly they adapt.

Fresh off a commanding 12-shot victory at Pinewoods, the Cebuano star showcased a completely different brand of golf at the ICTSI Pradera Verde Championship, grinding out a one-under-par 71 on Friday to fend off a relentless field of champions and title contenders and complete a rare back-to-back title sweep on the Philippine Golf Tour.

Unlike his runaway triumph in Baguio, where he virtually settled the outcome after 54 holes, this victory demanded patience, discipline and composure. Strong winds that swept across the exposed Arayat layout over the final two rounds turned an already demanding course into an exacting test, while a succession of challengers kept the pressure on until the final hole.

Go never flinched.

He finished with a nine-under-par 279, edging veteran Tony Lascuña by a single stroke to claim the P359,000 champion’s purse and reinforce his reputation as one of the Tour’s most complete players.

“I played very well yesterday (third round) and I played the front nine today really solid,” Go said. “I had a lot of chances on the back nine but I didn’t really make any putts.”

Still, his steady play proved enough.

Go built his advantage with two birdies through the first 13 holes while his closest pursuers struggled to gain momentum. Even a costly mistake on the par-4 14th failed to shake his confidence.

Although he carried a two-shot lead to the par-5 closing hole, the title remained undecided after Lascuña stuffed his approach close for a birdie chance.

“I kept making pars on the back, so I knew I still had control, but I never felt I had clinched it until the very end,” Go said after safely making par to seal the victory.

The difficult conditions only highlighted his consistency.

“The course was tough today. It was raining and windy, so it’s good to finish one-under for the day,” he said.

The victory underscored Go’s remarkable versatility.

Pinewoods rewarded precision, imagination and shot-making on its mountainous terrain. Pradera Verde demanded power, disciplined course management and precise distance control, particularly with swirling winds testing the field over the closing 36 holes.

Go excelled on both.

“I made very big adjustments. Pinewoods is shorter and Pradera is longer, so my mid-irons this week were really important and I did really well the last couple of days,” he said.

He credited his balanced game for the impressive run.

“Winning these two tournaments only shows that my game has been very good overall. All aspects of my game have been good right now.”

Despite the consecutive victories, Go admitted he never expected to complete the double.

“I just wanted to play well. It’s hard to win two tournaments in a row, so it’s really a big accomplishment,” he said.

Lascuña closed with a 70 to finish at 280 and collect P234,000, marking his second runner-up finish this season after also losing by one shot to Angelo Que at Caliraya Springs.

Keanu Jahns finished solo third at 282 after a 71, while Clyde Mondilla slipped to fourth at 283 following a closing 74. Que placed fifth at 285 after a 74, while Jhonnel Ababa and Rupert Zaragosa tied for sixth at 286 after rounds of 72 and 76, respectively. Randy Garalde, who started the day just two shots off the lead, tumbled to 10th after a final-round 79.

Go now turns his attention to the Asian Tour, which resumes in September, carrying not only back-to-back titles but renewed confidence after proving he can win under vastly different conditions.