Go rules ICTSI Palos Verdes romp with 4-shot romp

DAVAO – With a commanding lead, Lloyd Go turned the final round of the ICTSI Palos Verdes Championship into a victory lap here Friday, essaying a four-stroke victory over Michael Bibat and Guido van der Valk despite a 74 at the Rancho Palos Verdes and Sports Club.

Go’s stellar performance, highlighted by a 65 in the third round, established him as the frontrunner by a significant eight-stroke advantage over Nilo Salahog, Sean Ramos and Angelo Que. Despite final round setbacks, he stayed focused and produced a clutch birdie on the par-3 17th to secure the victory.

The 28-year-old Seton Hall University product expressed his joy at finally breaking through after years of playing professionally. He acknowledged the pressure but remained composed, playing strategically to maintain his lead throughout the round.

“I’ve been playing for so many years and haven’t won,” said Go, who turned pro in 2018. “But I finally broke the barrier and I’m really happy. Now, I can say that I’m an accomplished pro.”

Go cracked under pressure after birdying No. 1, slipping with bogeys on Nos. 2, 6 and 11 and a double bogey on No. 5. Yet, these blips hardly mattered as his pursuers either ran out of holes or struggled in the stretch, paving the way for the former national team standout’s unimpeded match to a maiden victory on a 12-under 276 total worth P350,000.

Bibat and van der Valk, trailing Go by 12 and 13 strokes, respectively, after 54 holes, respectively, mounted their comeback in the third-to-last flight with a pair of low rounds in sweltering heat.

Bibat’s near-flawless 66 and van der Valk’s eagle-aided 65 narrowed the gap to just three shots in the final stretch. However, Go’s substantial advantage proved too big a lead to overcome, leaving his challengers depleted of energy in their pursuit.

Bibat and van der Valk wound up with identical 280s and halved the combined P360,000 second and third prizes.

“I was really nervous. Even though I had a big lead, I couldn’t execute my shots. But I just hung in there,” said Go. “There was pressure but whenever I was out of position, I didn’t force it, aiming at the middle of green and making two putts.”

Go put the outcome beyond doubt with a long birdie putt on the 17th, regaining a four-shot cushion.

“That was crucial,” he said.

The triumph marked a redemption for Go, erasing the stigma of his past disappointments when leading after 54 holes in previous Philippine Golf Tour events, including in the Eagle Ridge Invitational in 2022.

He also blew third round leads in consecutive Asian Development Tour events in September 2022, including in the BNI Ciputra Golfpreneur in Indonesia and losing a playoff battle in the BRG Open in Vietnam.

But these setbacks, coupled with a missed cut stint in the Lexus Challenge in Vietnam last week, only strengthened his resolve.

This week, Go showcased his winning form, putting in rounds of 67-70-65 to surge ahead by eight strokes heading to the final round of the P2 million championship, the second leg of this year’ circuit sponsored by ICTSI and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc.

Go’s triumph also bodes well for his campaign in Japan next week as part of his ongoing efforts to elevate his game and compete at the highest level in the challenging yet lucrative circuit.

Go, whose campaign is backed by Cebu Landmasters and Nature’s Spring, earned playing status at the Abema Tour, the Japan Golf Tour’s farm league, in last year’s Q-School.

“That’s where I’m focusing on, together with the PGT, this year,” said Go, who is set to compete in the kickoff leg of the 12-stage circuit in Novil Cup slated April 3-5 at the J. Classic Golf Club in Tokushima Prefecture.

Keanu Jahns rallied with a 69 to tie Salahog, who carded a 71, at fourth at 281, while Ira Alido matched par 72 for the second straight day and finished at sixth spot with 283 in the event supported by PGTI official apparel Kampfortis Golf.

Randy Garalde also charged back with a 68 to grab a share of seventh at 284 with Que and Ramos, who struggled with a pair of 74s, while Tony Lascuña fired a 70 and Rupert Zaragosa carded a 71 to tie Reymon Jaraula, who skied to a 76, at 10th with 289s.