By ADRIAN STEWART CO
Florence Bisera pulled off a come-from-behind victory in the ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic, carding a tournament-best 67 in the final round to edge Princess Superal and Korea’s Seo Yun Kim by one stroke at the Marapara Golf and Country Club in Negros Occidental on Thursday, September 11.
She started the day with six shots behind the leaders but closed strong to finish with a 209 total in the 54-hole event, clinching her third career title nearly a year after her Match Play Championship win at The Country Club.
“I didn’t expect to win because I was six shots behind after two rounds,” Bisera said.
“I just told myself that I wanted to shoot under par on the final day — that was my only goal. I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it,” she added.
The Davaoeña Bisera credited her putting for the victory, sinking five birdies despite missing several other chances.
“When play resumed on No. 15, my only goal was to hit the fairway and reach the green because I knew how tough the course conditions were,” she said.
“But the putt dropped, and on No. 17, my approach shot landed close enough for me to convert another birdie,” she added.
Kim, still chasing her first local crown after seven runner-up finishes, was in control early with birdies on Nos. 4 and 5, but faltered on the back nine with three bogeys, including costly stumbles on Nos. 16 and 17.
She settled for a 72 and tied Superal at 210 after the latter struggled to a 74.
Superal had a chance to force a playoff but missed her birdie putt on the final hole.
Kim also fell short after overshooting the green on No. 18 and saving par from the bunker.
They shared second place and split the combined purse of P147,000.
Lois Kaye Go finished fourth at 212 after a 72, while Tiffany Lee surged to fifth with a 69 for a 215 total.
Chanelle Avaricio (217), Daniella Uy (218), Sarah Ababa (220), and Kayla Nocum and Gretchen Villacencio (221) completed the Top 10.
The win underscored Bisera’s resilience after she rallied from a shaky front nine, regrouped and delivered under pressure in difficult weather conditions./ASC, WDJ