LUBAO, Pampanga — Lloyd Go arrives at the ICTSI Pradera Verde Championship with momentum, confidence and a clear objective that extends beyond winning another trophy.
Fresh off a dominant victory at the Pinewoods Challenge, Go is determined to strengthen his position in the Philippine Golf Tour Order of Merit, climb back into the Top 30 and revive his overseas campaign.
The fourth leg of the PGT season begins Tuesday, July 7, at Pradera Verde Golf and Country Club, where Go enters as the player to beat after one of the most lopsided victories on Tour in recent years.
Go turned what was expected to be a tightly contested tournament at Pinewoods into a runaway victory. He seized control in the third round and closed with a 12-shot triumph over Jeffren Lumbo to collect the P441,500 winner’s purse.
More important than the title, however, was what the victory meant for his season.
“I need to play well at Pinewoods and Pradera Verde so I can keep my card,” said the former national team standout.
Go said missing last year’s The Country Club Invitational, the PGT’s premier event, remains a major source of motivation.
“Last year I wasn’t able to play at TCC because I wasn’t in the Top 30, and that hurt me. So my goal is to get back into the Top 30,” he said, referring to his absence after overseas commitments left him short of the qualifying mark in the Order of Merit.
Another strong finish at Pradera Verde would further improve his standing before he resumes competing abroad.
Standing in his way is another deep field led by defending champion Angelo Que.
Que used last year’s Pradera Verde victory as the springboard to his first Order of Merit crown. The three-time Asian Tour winner is again in the title chase after edging Tony Lascuña by one stroke at Caliraya Springs last month.
Although Que finished tied for 15th at Pinewoods, he is expected to be a strong contender on the flatter Pradera Verde layout as he seeks to reclaim the title and bolster his own Order of Merit bid.
Also looking to rebound are Clyde Mondilla, Keanu Jahns, Zanieboy Gialon, Guido van der Valk, Rupert Zaragosa and Dino Villanueva.
Lumbo hopes to build on his runner-up finish at Pinewoods in pursuit of his second PGT title, while Carl Corpus and Reymon Jaraula return to the circuit aiming to contend in the fourth stop of the 10-leg tour organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
