Bisera shows up tour big guns

Journeyman Ramil Bisera parlayed a solid game from tee to green into a four-under-par 68 that made him the surprise leader by two strokes in the opening round of the P1 million PGAP-Julio Cup at the Villamor Golf Club course.

The Davao-based Bisera, fresh from posting his best-ever finish in a 10-year pro career of sixth place in The Country Club Invitational last February, kept his steady form to shoot six birdies — three on each nine — against only two bogeys on a difficult day when the field had to contend with fairways hardened by the torrid summer heat.

The 30-year Bisera, son of a teaching pro, found himself setting the pace for the two tournament top guns, Robert Pactolerin and Antonio Lascuña, who both fired 70s and red-hot amateur Juvic Pagunsan, just three back like Roger Cabajar after shooting a 71.

They were the only players who broke par among the 80 starters in the tourney sponsored by a Korean patron of local pros which offers P120,000 to the winner.

Another amateur, Jay Bayron, was tied with Joselito Rempojo at even-par 72 indicating a renewed bid by the Canlubang bets to put one over the pros not too long after Pagunsan had a near miss in the Philippine Open at Riviera.

Juvic actually just returned from a victorious stint in the Michael Bonnalack Trophy in Italy.

"Sa ganda ng palo dapat mas mababa pa sa 71. Hindi bale bukas ulit," said Pagunsan.

The early-starting Pactolerin and Lascuna held the clubhouse lead for most of the day until Bisera, playing in the latest flights, checked in with his frontrunning score.

Pactolerin, the event top seed by virtue of his mastery of the course with at least six Philippine Masters victories, riddled the course with seven birdies, including three in a row from the 15th. But he made just too many bogeys in the front nine (four) that told heavily on his leadership bid.

After winning a million-peso paycheck at The Country Club, Lascuna was at it again.

Lascuna needed a big birdie on the 18th, which was his sixth for the day, to tie Pactolerin as he also made four bogeys through 16 holes.

"Mahirap ma-miss ang drive, sigurado playout ka," said Lascuna, who picked up bogeys on the the second, fifth and 16th holes all because of errant tee-shots.