MEXICO, Pampanga. — Rolando Bregente delivered an impressive performance in his ICTSI Intercollegiate Tour debut, holing out with a dramatic eagle on the final hole to cap a stirring three-under 68 and clinch a two-stroke victory over Sean Granada in Round 4 at the Beverly Place Golf Club here Sunday.
But despite the breathtaking showcase of talent and nerves of steel, Bregente – and his Lyceum of the Philippines University-Cavite – will not be part of the season-ending finals next month as both the player and team failed to meet the minimum participation requirement of two events to qualify for the championship round.
Granada, the standout from the College of St. Benilde who topped Round 2 at Splendido Taal, rallied with three birdies on the back nine of the par-71 course to card a 70 and secure runner-up honors. Alongside Zach Castro of La Salle-1 – winner of Round 3 at Pradera Verde last week – they now lead the list of qualifiers advancing to the grand finals set for Sept. 23–25 at Splendido Taal.
Under IIT rules, only teams and players who competed in at least two of the four rounds are eligible for the grand finals. The Top 8 teams and ties in each division, including the ladies, will advance, along with all players who have earned points.
Bregente, playing his first and only leg of the four-round, course-hopping tour, upstaged a stellar field that had split the first three rounds, including UP-1’s Joshua Buenaventura (Royal Northwoods), Granada and Castro.
Their expected three-way duel for a second-leg victory was quickly derailed as Bregente, from the talent-rich Bukidnon, stormed out of the gates with a birdie on the opening hole. He showcased elite-level ball-striking, combining a booming long game with clinical iron play and rock-solid putting to dominate the field.
Birdies from Nos. 9 to 11 propelled him to a three-shot cushion, but a wobble with three bogeys in the next four holes saw his lead briefly evaporate and La Salle individual player Robin See seize the lead at one-under.
Still, Bregente, who honed his talent playing for Del Monte in Interclub tournaments, responded with the poise of a seasoned pro – firing a birdie on the par-3 16th and capping his round with an eagle on the par-5 18th. From near the greenside bunker, he lofted a precise shot that landed just short of the pin before rolling in on a tricky downhill lie.
“I didn’t expect to shoot a 68, much less make an eagle, especially on that downhill,” said Bregente in Filipino after his victory.
“Kasi ka-enrol ko lang,” he added when asked about his late decision to join the Tour, thanking Lyceum-Cavite captain Michael Bolano for encouraging him to play in the final leg.
Buenaventura and Castro shared third place with See with identical 74s. See faded late, bogeying four of the last six holes.
UP-1 Miggy Roque carded a 75 for sixth while Bolano shot a 76 for joint seventh with Lorenzo Flores of La Salle-1, and Angelo Fusilero, also of La Salle-1, and La Salle-2’s Arvin Ong matched 77s.
Bregente and Bolano’s combined two-over 144 was enough to lift Lyceum-1 to the team title, edging out UP-1 by five after the Diliman-based school pooled a 149.
La Salle-1 settled for third with 150.
Despite the win, Lyceum’s late entry into the tour, co-developed by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and the Philippine Golf Foundation, means their journey ends here.
Round 4 of the ladies division is set on Aug. 24 at Eastridge Golf Club in Binangonan, Rizal. All eyes will be on La Salle-1’s Julia Lua, who is expected to return after missing the previous two legs.
Lua, who ruled the pre-launch leg at Sherwood Hills and Round 1 at Royal Northwoods, currently sits tied for third in the individual standings with 15 points alongside Ateneo-2’s Shane Tan, who topped the Pradera Verde leg.
UP-1’s Addie Manhit currently leads with 27 points on the strength of two runner-up finishes and a victory at Caliraya Springs. Ateneo-1’s Simi Tinio is second with 18 points. The Eastridge leg could shake up the standings once more before the ladies’ final cast is determined.
