Shit, that sucks.
You might want to try hydrogen peroxide 3%. It's kind of harsh, but you're not budding yet, so it shouldn't be too bad. At that strength you can spray it directly on the plant, just don't overdo it. It can cause burning on the leaves.
Other than that all I can suggest is cutting it off. You should just have time for the plant to recover before flowering, so it might just be like topping it.