ONE week he tamed the mountain. The next, he conquered the plains.
From the demanding slopes and severe elevation changes of Pinewoods to the sprawling, flatter and wind-swept fairways of Pradera Verde’s Arayat course, Lloyd Go proved that truly elite players aren’t defined by the courses they play — but by how quickly they adapt.
After overpowering Pinewoods with a dominant 12-shot victory, Go showcased an entirely different brand of golf at the ICTSI Pradera Verde Championship, grinding out a pressure-packed final-round 71 to repel a relentless charge from a field loaded with champions and title contenders and complete a rare, hard-earned back-to-back title sweep on the Philippine Golf Tour.
Unlike his runaway triumph in Baguio, where he virtually settled the outcome after the third round, this victory demanded everything from the Cebuano ace. The strong winds that swept across the wide-open Arayat layout over the last two days added another layer of difficulty, while a succession of challengers repeatedly threatened to wrest control away from him.
Yet through shifting conditions, contrasting course setups and an army of pursuers, Go never blinked.
He finished with a nine-under-par 279, edging veteran Tony Lascuña by one to pocket the P359,000 top prize and cement another masterclass in adaptability, composure and championship golf.
“I played very well yesterday (third round) and I played the front nine today really solid,” said Go of the strong start that kept his experienced rivals at bay. “I had a lot of chances at the back nine but I didn’t really make any putts.”
His composure and consistency were on full display as he weathered pressure from a star-studded chasing pack and challenging playing conditions to complete another impressive victory.
Although he held a two-shot advantage heading to the par-5 final hole, Go still had to keep his focus after Lascuña knocked his approach close to set up a birdie opportunity.
“I kept making par at the back, so I knew I still have control but I never clinched it until the very end,” said Go, who wisely settled for a routine par to seal a one-shot victory.
The final round demanded patience as rain and gusty winds added another layer of difficulty to an already testing layout.
“The course is tough today. It’s raining and it’s windy, so it’s good to finish one-under for the day,” Go said.
The victory also underscored Go’s ability to adapt after winning on two markedly different courses in consecutive weeks.
“I made very big adjustments. Pinewoods is shorter and Pradera is longer, so my mid-irons this week were really important and I did really well the last couple of days,” he said.
Go credited his all-around game for his recent run of success.
“Winning these two tournaments only showed that my game has been very good overall. All aspects of my game have been good right now,” he said. TMT
