CAVINTI, Laguna — Julia Lua returns to action as the marked player when the ICTSI Intercollegiate Tour resumes with Round 2 of the ladies division at Caliraya Springs Golf Club tomorrow, armed with a streak of confidence-boosting wins and a game that continues to mature with every round.
The La Salle-1 standout has proven to be the most consistent performer in the early stretch of the pioneering campus-based tour, dominating the Sherwood Hills launch before clinching the Round 1 individual title with an 84 at Royal Northwoods Golf Club Inc. in Bulacan last month.
That back-to-back run has installed the 19-year-old shotmaker as the player to beat on a course known for exposing even the slightest weakness.
But her path to another triumph won’t be easy.
Standing in her way is a determined field led by UP-1’s Adrienne Manhit, who finished just behind Lua in Royal Northwoods and is keen to avenge that near-miss. Known for her steady ball-striking and competitive fire, Manhit is expected to push Lua to the limit on Caliraya’s rolling terrain, where uneven lies, elevated greens and swirling winds pose a serious test.
Also primed for a breakthrough are Saint Benilde’s Natasha Bantug, UP’s Katrisse Datoc and Lua’s own La Salle teammates Janine Yusay and Margarita Bautista, along with Enderun Colleges’ Kristyanna Herrera and Mapua’s Rane Cabling.
Each player brings a different dimension to the field — length, short-game finesse, or course management — adding intrigue to an expected tight leaderboard chase.