FLORENCE Bisera overcame challenging bounces off the tee with a near-impeccable short game, delivering a gutsy two-under 70 to take a one-stroke lead over Seoyun Kim at the start of the ICTSI Ladies Philippine Masters at Villamor Golf Club on Wednesday.
Following her maiden victory at South Pacific in Davao last September, Bisera overcame a bogey on No. 16 with three birdies, including a tap-in on the final hole.
“Actually, my driving was good, but I missed many shots due to the unpredictable kicks. However, my short game, especially putting, was strong,” said Bisera in Pilipino. She birdied the par-3 No. 4 and No. 15 but couldn’t save par after missing the green on the next hole. Bisera hinted at adjusting her strategy for the second round, saying: “I might avoid using the driver too much; the fairways are very unpredictable.”
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Kim, who began her round in the backside, reached the ninth hole at two-under par with four birdies against two bogeys. However, she struggled with her putting, missing close-range birdie opportunities on Nos. 6 and 7 and failing to get up-and-down on the last hole, resulting in a 71.
Defending champion Harmie Constantino, who had a rough start, rebounded with a blistering finish. From joint seventh at three-over after 15 holes, the back-to-back winner at Palos Verdes and Caliraya Springs birdied two of the last three holes to card a 73, placing her in solo third.
Pre-tournament favorite Pauline del Rosario demonstrated her prowess, overcoming an early mishap on No. 2 with three birdies over the next 11 holes. However, an uncharacteristic quadruple bogey on the par-4 No. 14 derailed her charge. She bogeyed the next hole but birdied the 16th, finishing with a 74. Mikha Fortuna and Gretchen Villacencio also posted 74s, tying for fourth place, four strokes behind Bisera.
Sarah Ababa wavered with a 75, sharing seventh with Chihiro Ikeda. Apple Fudolin carded a 76, while Velinda Castil turned in a 77 for 10th spot in the 54-hole, P750,000 tournament, the fourth leg of this year’s circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
With Kim, Constantino, and del Rosario expected to press their bids, along with Fortuna and Villacencio, a spirited battle is anticipated as the contenders position themselves for a shot at the championship.
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