The inaugural ICTSI Intercollegiate Golf Tour, unfolding Monday, June 16, at Sherwood Hills Golf Club in Cavite, is set to break new ground as a showcase of the country’s most promising collegiate golfers and a platform for young talents aspiring to become student-athletes, scholarship recipients and future professionals.
More than just a tournament, the tour reflects a growing movement to bridge academic life with elite sports, giving students—many not yet officially recognized by their schools—a chance to prove themselves.
For these aspiring golfers, strong performances could lead to recognition, support and even scholarships.
“This is a big milestone for our university,” said Mapua U team captain Edrian Mangabay, whose school is competing in a major golf event for the first time.
“We’re proud to be the pioneering batch of golfers representing Mapua officially. Our goal is to open the door for the next generation of players.”
Mangabay said the team is still developing but shows strong potential.
“We’ve been training, but we’re still a work in progress,” he said.
“We’re hoping this tour becomes the catalyst for our full recognition as a varsity team and possibly lead to scholarships for some of us.”
Tournament director Jack Imperial said the vision behind the Intercollegiate Tour is to level the playing field—not just for seasoned players, but also for less-experienced golfers seeking exposure.
“We want all participating schools, regardless of their golfing pedigree, to enjoy equal attention and opportunities,” said Imperial.
“The goal is for more schools to support their student-athletes through scholarships and team development as they see the potential and passion these students bring.”
Using a stroke play format, each participant competes both individually and as part of a team, adding intensity and accountability to every round.
This structure sharpens skills under pressure and offers a platform to spotlight emerging talents who might otherwise go unnoticed.
The tour, held in partnership with Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. and the Philippine Golf Foundation, features 11 schools from various collegiate leagues, with no limit on how many teams each school may enter.
Individual students may also compete in the singles category regardless of team affiliation.
“This isn’t just a tournament—it’s a stepping-stone,” said Sean Granada, co-captain of the College of Saint Benilde team.
“This platform opens new doors, both academically and athletically. For many of us, it could be the start of something bigger.”
The long-term goal of the ICTSI Intercollegiate Tour is to raise the level of collegiate golf and create a pathway for young athletes aiming to turn professional.
“This tour will definitely help prepare collegiate players for tournament golf and the pro level,” said La Salle’s Perry Bucay, who highlighted the importance of targeted training in building elite golfers.
Other schools participating include Ateneo, University of Santo Tomas, University of the Philippines, Lyceum of the Philippines University, FEATI University, La Salle-Dasmariñas, Enderun Colleges and the University of the Cordilleras in Baguio.
As golf gains traction at the collegiate level, there is growing support for major leagues like the UAAP and NCAA to incorporate the sport into their annual calendars.
The ICTSI Intercollegiate Tour is laying the foundation by providing structure, media exposure and a vision for sustainable development.
