ICTSI Pueblo de Oro tilt: Bisera recovers to pull away with 68
CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines – Yvon Bisera turned a shaky start into an impressive surge, unleashing a blistering back-nine charge capped by three straight birdies from No. 15 to shoot a four-under 68 and seize a commanding four-shot lead in the ICTSI Pueblo de Oro Championship on Monday.
After stumbling with bogeys on Nos. 2 and 5 while struggling to find her touch with the irons, the Davaoeña ace regrouped in impressive fashion, stringing together six birdies to emerge from the opening round with a big cushion in the 54-hole, P1.25-million championship at Pueblo de Oro Golf and Country Club here.
Her scorching finish proved a stark contrast to the struggles of her rivals, many of whom faltered under the punishing heat and the course’s demanding layout.
Reigning Ladies Philippine Golf Tour Order of Merit champion Sarah Ababa emerged as Bisera’s closest pursuer with a 72, but even she could not escape the day’s challenges, mixing three birdies with three bogeys to settle four strokes behind.
Tiffany Lee and Velinda Castil carded 73s, while Martina Miñoza and Daniella Uy stumbled to 74s. Princess Superal and amateur sister Ace Superal turned in 76s, while Rev Alcantara and Angela Mangana limped home with 77s as the heat and the course took their toll on the early contenders.
Bisera, however, refused to let her early miscues dictate her round. Despite a late start under sweltering conditions, she steadied herself with birdies on Nos. 7 and 9 before taking charge on the back nine, where four more birdies transformed a tentative start into a commanding performance.
Reflecting on the contrasting fortunes of her opening nine, Bisera said her driving remained solid even as her iron play let her down on two early holes.
“My driving was good, but my irons weren’t sharp on the front nine, and I missed two greens,” said Bisera in Filipino, who nevertheless managed to recover before the turn and put herself in position for a decisive back-nine assault.
The late start also meant playing through the day’s intense heat, making her recovery all the more impressive. Bisera said conditions became more manageable as the round progressed.
“It was extremely hot when we started late, but the temperature eased a little on the back nine,” she said.
Bisera began to find her rhythm on the par-5 seventh, then capitalized on a solid approach from 95 yards to set up a tap-in birdie on No. 9. From there, she took control, capping her charge with three consecutive birdies from No. 15 and leaving herself virtually unscathed over her final 13 holes.
The 68 further bolstered the confidence of the two-time winner this year, who triumphed in a playoff at Lakewood and scored a runaway victory at Pradera Verde before placing ninth in a recent Taiwan LPGA tournament co-sanctioned by the LPGT.
Coming off that international campaign, Bisera said the experience had strengthened her belief in her game and helped her carry positive momentum into the LPGT stop, which has returned to Pueblo de Oro after a lengthy absence.
“My confidence is high after the way I played in Taiwan,” said Bisera, who also expressed her appreciation for the course’s playing conditions, particularly its greens.
Bisera praised the layout but noted that its long par-3s and demanding finishing hole would require precision throughout the tournament.
“The course is in good shape, and the greens are nice, although the par-3s are quite long,” she said. “The 18th is also one of the toughest holes because trouble is waiting almost everywhere, especially around the green.”
Despite her imposing first-round advantage, Bisera knows that maintaining her form will be crucial as she pursues another victory and strengthens her bid for a maiden LPGT Order of Merit crown.
“I need to be sharper with my driving and irons, and I have to keep putting well,” she said.
Her rivals, meanwhile, face the challenge of mounting a strong comeback while hoping Bisera loses some of the momentum that carried her to the top of the leaderboard.
Gretchen Villacencio briefly seized control after turning in a two-under backside 35, taking advantage of the early struggles of the fancied contenders in the heat. But her charge fizzled on the way home as she limped to a front-nine 43 to finish with a 78, ending the day in a share of 11th with Monica Mandario and amateur Isabella Tabanas. (Pool story)
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