MANILA, Philippines – Lloyd Go put up an impressive frontside performance, racking up four birdies worth 8 points as he tallied a 9-point total to grab a share of 19th in the first round of the For the Players By the Players 2024 at The Club Golf Villave in Gunma Prefecture in Japan Thursday.
The four-day tournament marks a unique format for the Japan Golf Tour, reintroducing point-based scoring reminiscent of the 1990-98 Acom International. Under the system, a par holds no points, a birdie earns two points, and an eagle rewards five points. Notably, an albatross commands a remarkable eight points, while a bogey incurs a deduction of one point, and a double bogey or worse results in a deduction of three points.
Despite encountering a bit of a struggle with a one-birdie, one-bogey card at the backnine, Go, who tied for second in the recent i Golf Shaper Challenge on the Abema Tour, soared at the turn, particularly in the last eight holes. He showcased remark able precision, carding birdies on Nos. 2, 5, 7 and 9 to end up with nine points, equivalent to four-under 68 in traditional stroke play.
However, Go found himself trailing Naoyuki Kataoka and Yusaku Hosono by six points after the Japanese duo matched 65s in stroke play, each earning 15 points, just a point ahead of Hiroya Kubota, Kunihiro Uei, M. Hendry and Song Yong Han of Korea.
Justin delos Santos, meanwhile, had a chance to surpass or match Go’s output, but a last-hole bogey halted his charge, disrupting what could ha ve been a promising start on the frontnine, sparked by three straight birdies from No. 1. He also birdied No. 8 to make up for his mishaps on Nos. 6 and 9.
Though he double bogeyed No. 13, he bounced back with three birdies in the next five holes but bogeyed the last, slipping to tied 27th instead with eight points.
Juvic Pag unsan, however, hit just one birdie for a measly two-point total as he fell to joint 83rd in danger of missing the cut in the Y50-million championship.
MANILA, Philippines – Despite bowing out of the UAAP Season 86 women’s volleyball tournament, the Far Eastern University Lady Tamaraws are focusing on the positives.
From winning just one game in the UAAP season 84, to going fifth last season, and finally barging into the semifinals of the tournament this year, FEU surely has gone a long way.
The Lady Tamaraws likewise forced a do-or-die against last year’s runners-up, the National University Lady Bulldogs.
On Wednesday, however, NU could not be stopped, needing just three sets to punch a ticket to their third straight women’s volleyball f inals.
FEU head coach Manolo Refugia, after their defeat, admitted that the loss stings, but they will focus on the bright side.
“We prepared for this, but if we are looking at the brighter side, we had a good run, good season. We have come a long way from the past two seasons and we really grew,” he told reporters in Filipino after the game.
“These two [Tin Ubaldo and Chenie Tagaod grew.] And Faida [Bakanke] was welcomed in the Philippines. So, I am very grateful to what the team achieved. I am really proud that we reached our goal, to return to the Final Four,” he added.
He tipped his hat to Ubaldo and Tagaod, who were part of the one-win team.
“I am really proud, because these two, we were together. We do not forget that this came from scratch, so I am really proud to see them grow. We all grew together and we learned a lot from each other.”
Through the highs and lows, Refugia said they are focusing on the lessons learned the whole season.
This was also underscored by Ubaldo, saying that while they are sad, they will focus on the brighter side.
Bakanke, for her part, voiced eagerness to return stronger next season.
“It is my first year [in] the UAAP. Played well with the teammates and the coaches. We need to accept losing [and] the mistakes,” the Congolese rookie said.
“We did not accept that now but we need to accept that, so next year we [will] make bawi… Last season, we came back. Next season, we will come back stronger.”