At A Glance
- The 24-year-old Lyceum of the Philippines University standout, who first swung a club at age eight while his father worked as a caddie, posted one-over-par 73 at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club's West Course to clinch the title.
Rolando Bregente Jr
Manolo Fortich’s own Rolando Bregente Jr. saw himself rising from the fairways of Del Monte Golf and Country Club to rule the inaugural NCAA Season 101 Golf Tournament presented by the Philippine Sports Commission on Wednesday, May 20.
The 24-year-old Lyceum of the Philippines University standout, who first swung a club at age eight while his father worked as a caddie, posted one-over-par 73 at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club’s West Course to clinch the title.
Bregente highlighted his final round with five birdies, enough to edge guest team University of Asia and the Pacific’s Zach Villaroman by one stroke. College of St. Benilde’s Sean Granada finished two shots adrift for third.
“This is the first NCAA golf tournament, so I promised myself to give my best. My name will be in the record books as the first to win it,” said Bregente.
Already a two-time NGAP championship division winner this year and a national team mainstay who placed fifth in the last SEA Games in Thailand, Bregente’s victory underscores his steady rise from provincial prodigy to collegiate champion.
PSC Chairman Patrick Gregorio hailed the NCAA golf tournament as a breakthrough in grassroots sports, declaring it seamlessly aligned with the PSC’s newly launched Fairways to the Future program along with the National Golf Association of the Philippines (NGAP).
“The PSC golf grassroots roadmap is clear. We cannot just create a grassroots program without having tournaments, and this is where collegiate leagues such as the NCAA come in,” said Gregorio.
Meanwhile, College of St. Benilde dominated the team event, amassing 115 points behind Sean Granada’s blazing lead and reinforced by the steady contributions of Miguel Aguilar, Nathan Jasper Lee, Isaac Ong, Christian Adrineda, and Andrei Lee.
The Open division saw San Beda’s Ice Reyes card a four-over 76 to outlast Mapua’s Armand Cajayon and Letran’s King Gabriel Raymundo.
In the guest division, Ian Umali emerged on top, edging Mark Ronquillo despite identical 80s, with Paolo Sunga rounding out the podium at 83.