“WE DEVELOPED a huge lead on day one, lost a little bit in day two, and lost it all in day three,” said Ateneo golf captain, Gab Atienza.

Bidding to become only the second team to successfully defend their title, the Ateneo Golf Team were three shots short of winning the Samsung Interscholastic Tournament, held in Calubang, Laguna from June 9 to 11, succumbing to eventual champions, De La Salle University (DLSU), 440-437.

Lyceum University and the College of Saint Benilde finished third and fourth with 425 and 421 points respectively.

Samsung Open

The tournament required five players from each team to compete, with only three of the best scores included in the team’s final point tally.

For Edsel Tan, Rocco Sumabat, Moshe Baldo, Gab Villareal, and Atienza it was an intense three rounds and 54 holes of golf—not to mention six hours under the scorching summer heat.

Day one

Leading the Blue Golfers was Tan, who shot a personal tournament high of 53 points. Atienza and Villareal also contributed to the team’s 154 points, 51 and 50 points respectively.

With a 16 point lead over second place oppositions, DLSU, at the end of day one, things seemed to be on track for the defending champions.

Day two however, told an entirely different story.

Going downhill

Coming into the tournament, coaches and golf alumni former  had high expectations for the team, all wanting a repeat of last season’s winning streak.

“We could have [increased the lead] but we didn’t play as well,” Atienza said, “we felt pressured to shoot big rounds.”

DLSU’s superior second day performance allowed them to gain ground, cutting Ateneo’s lead to nine points, as they shot 152 points to Ateneo’s 145.

Then on the third and final round, the gentlemen in Blue watched their lead slowly slip away as the men in Green continued their superb play, shooting 150 points, while Ateneo only managed 138—their lowest throughout the three day tournament.

“Considering that we got [a significant] lead on the first day, we really should have closed it out,” Atienza said admitting to the defeat.

Preparation

The Blue Golfers, however, didn’t have much time to prepare. The tournament which was set to be held in early September, was pushed two months forward due to the venue being booked for other forthcoming tournaments.

As summer training was cut short, the lack of practice on the fairway played a role in the team’s dip in performance. Villareal pointed out the lack of game stamina and mental toughness as key contributors to their lackluster performance.

“Our tournaments are long, one round is easily 6 hours, so by the third day people got tired,” he said.

Game experience

It was a tournament to forget, both Atienza and Villareal stating that, it was theirs to lose.

But with the prestigious Intercollegiate Golf Tournament to prepare for, the Ateneo Golf Team can take satisfaction in knowing that they were still a formidable force, as despite their short comings they still sustained their lead for two rounds.

Compared to last season, Atienza said, “This team is young in experience.”

But don’t expect that to stop these gentlemen from training as hard as they can, they still believe they have what it takes to win.