Bisera stuns field with gritty wire-to-wire triumph at Thai LPGA Masters
MANILA, Philippines -- Florence Bisera made the most of her rare overseas campaign – and delivered in the most dramatic fashion – clinching the 2025 Thai LPGA Masters crown with a hard-earned one-stroke victory over a surging home bet Nattarika Sensai despite a closing one-over-par 73 at the challenging Singha Park Khon Kaen Golf Club in Tha Phra on Saturday.
While Bisera entered the THB4-million (approximately P7.1-million) championship brimming with confidence following a gutsy come-from-behind win in the recent Negros Occidental leg of the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour, few outside her team expected her to go wire-to-wire against a stacked Thai field on foreign soil. But the gutsy Davaoena proved that self-belief, battle-tested poise and rising momentum can upend expectations.
“I’m very happy, this is my first international win coming off a victory at Marapara,” said the 23-year-old Bisera, a three-time Ladies Philippine Golf Tour winner. “I feel so blessed.”
Bisera seized a share of the lead in the opening round and separated herself with a second-round 68, grabbing a two-shot cushion heading into the final round of the 54-hole championship. Despite bracing for a tough closing stretch, she remained composed – even as Sensai, playing ahead of the final group, mounted a fearless charge.
Five strokes behind at the start of the day, Sensai lit up the front nine with a sizzling 33, highlighted by a birdie spree from No. 6. Her early onslaught brought her within one shot of the Bisera, putting pressure squarely on the Filipina, who had yet to win outside her home circuit.
But Bisera answered the challenge with a clutch birdie on the 10th, which proved pivotal after both players stumbled with bogeys on the par-4 14th. Down the stretch, it was nerves of steel that won it: Bisera strung together four steady pars, including a tap-in par on the par-5 18th to close at five-under 211 – just enough to edge Nattarika’s 69 and 212 and deny the local favorite a stunning rally.
Thailand’s Kusuma Meechai and Japan’s Hinata Ikeba tied for third at 213 after 72 and 73, respectively.
“I didn’t really feel the pressure because my caddie kept talking to me,” said Bisera in Filipino in trying to block out the pressure of the moment.
“I only truly felt that I was leading during my final putt, because I knew that anything could still happen until the game was over,” she added.
Princess Superal, part of a logjam of co-leaders after the first round, lost steam with a 74 to settle for a share of 13th at 218. Harmie Constantino and Daniella Uy matched 74s and ended up tied at 34th with 223s.
But the spotlight belonged to Bisera, whose breakout triumph added another chapter to the growing list of Filipina golfers making waves abroad.
A product of the LPGT circuit, Bisera’s rise reflects the deepening talent pool in Philippine women’s golf – and the increasing competitiveness of its players, shaped by domestic exposure and fueled by a growing hunger for international success. Her breakthrough may have surprised many, but it’s also a testament to how the LPGT continues to serve as an ideal launchpad for players with global ambitions.
Prior to this win, Bisera had shown flashes of brilliance in the Taiwan LPGA Tour but never cracked the leaderboard in a final round. With her Thai LPGA Masters title – her first outside the Philippines and fourth career win overall – she not only proved she belongs, but she also became the latest Filipina to raise the country’s banner in the regional circuit.
Beyond the trophy, the victory represents a symbolic step forward for Philippine women’s golf. It shows that with the right mix of opportunity, development, and grit, Filipina players can – and will – shine on the international stage.
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