STA. ROSA, Laguna – Davao’s Florence Bisera mirrored Arnold Villacencio’s triumph in the ICTSI The Country Club Match Play Invitational, though their paths to victory were quite different.
While Villacencio drew inspiration from his daughter Gretchen’s unwavering belief in him, Bisera found strength in the constant support of her father, Reynaldo, who caddied for her and played a crucial role in her success.
“My Papa was a big help because he helped me control my emotions. Whenever I got nervous, he was there to comfort me,” said Bisera after defeating Mikha Fortuna 2&1 to prevent the defending champion from claiming a back-to-back title. “He’s also great at reading the greens.”
The Davaoeña golfer, who was eliminated in the first round last year, took control early in the final, winning three of the first five holes as Fortuna struggled to find her rhythm.
Despite the calm conditions at the well-maintained TCC course, Bisera navigated the challenges expertly, capitalizing on Fortuna’s slow start to seize an early lead in the high-stakes final.
Bisera stayed composed throughout, even as rain added difficulty mid-round. She thwarted every comeback attempt from the defending champion, sinking clutch pars when needed.
When Fortuna closed the gap to one hole on the 15th, Bisera responded with a brilliant approach shot on the challenging par-4 16th, leaving herself a birdie putt, which she confidently sank to regain a two-hole advantage.
On the par-3 17th, Bisera held firm, matching Fortuna’s par to close out the match with a 2&1 win and claim the championship, along with the P280,000 prize.
Reflecting on her victory, Bisera noted that while both wins felt similarly rewarding, this one was particularly special. “I’m even happier now because I proved to myself that I can win not just on my home course, but also on other courses,” she said.
Ranked No. 5 in the 16-player field, Bisera’s journey to the title was challenging. She defeated Velinda Castil 4&2 in the first round, dominated Rev Alcantara 4&3 in the quarterfinals, and survived a tense 1-up win over Daniella Uy in the semifinals.
Fortuna, meanwhile, had a tougher route to the finals. She edged Jiwon Lee on the 19th hole in her opening match, narrowly defeated Kristine Fleetwood 1-up, and showed her championship potential by defeating Marvi Monsalve 3&1 in the semis.
Their 18-hole final started on even terms, but Bisera’s ability to take control early, maintain momentum, and deliver key shots earned her the victory.
“I didn’t expect to control the match because I know Mikha is good at Match Play. She struggled a bit with her putting, which allowed me to gain the early lead,” said Bisera, who dedicated her win to her family and to God. Fortuna took home P200,000.
In the battle for third place, Monsalve and Uy turned their duel into a closely contested affair, with Monsalve eventually prevailing on the 22nd hole. She earned P150,000, while Uy settled for fourth and took home P120,000.
