Lee ends two-year title drought

MANILA, Philippines — Tiffany Lee had waited two long years to win again, and when her chance finally came, she had to fight for every inch of it.

The Manila-based Korean saw a seemingly comfortable four-shot lead unravel in a harrowing front-nine struggle at the ICTSI Pueblo de Oro Championship yesterday. But just when the title appeared to be slipping away, the 18-year-old summoned the resolve, composure and fighting heart that have come to define her young career, producing a clutch back-nine rally to turn back Yvon Bisera by two strokes on a closing 72 and end a frustrating wait for her second professional victory.

It was no runaway triumph. It was a test of character.

Lee stumbled early, surrendered her commanding advantage and found herself trailing in a gripping duel that went down to the final hole at Pueblo de Oro Golf and Country Club in Cagayan de Oro. With the pressure mounting and Bisera threatening to force a playoff, Lee refused to fold, rediscovered her touch at the crucial moment and delivered the decisive blows when the championship hung in the balance.

Back-to-back birdies from No. 14 brought Lee back to two-under overall and pulled her level with Bisera, wiping out the damage of a difficult opening stretch. She then birdied the par-5 No. 17 to regain the outright lead before calmly parring the last hole to close out a gritty even par card.