Bisera snatches ‘improbable’ crown; Zaragoza leads men’s field by 1
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL—Two gritty stars emerged from chaos and pressure at the Marapara Golf and Country Club, their victories underscoring one of golf’s many truths: power dazzles, but putting is what delivers in the end.
Florence Bisera came from six shots back to snatch the ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic in stunning fashion, while Rupert Zaragosa relied on precision and nerves of steel to seize control of the men’s Challenge heading into its decisive round.
For Bisera, the win was as improbable as it was unforgettable. The Davaoeña was barely in contention at the start of Thursday’s final round, trailing by six strokes and harboring little expectation beyond a respectable finish. Instead, she delivered a tour de force—a closing 67 built on timely putting and a refusal to back down when conditions conspired against everyone else.
“I didn’t expect to win because I was six shots behind,” Bisera admitted in Filipino. “I just told myself to shoot under par. That was my only goal.”
She birdied Nos. 2, 3 and 6 to ignite her charge, stumbled with bogeys on Nos. 9 and 11, but recovered with late birdies on 15 and 17 to post one-under 209 overall. Playing one flight ahead, she could only watch as Princess Superal and Kim Seo-yun, who had led most of the week, faltered down the stretch. Kim bogeyed three times on the back nine, while Superal failed to convert at the 18th. Both settled for second at 210.
The drama was every bit as intense on the men’s side, where Zaragosa, the defending champion, stood tall against the tour’s longest hitters. The pint-sized ace pieced together a bogey-free 64 to move to 10-under 200 and secure a one-shot edge over Keanu Jahns after three rounds.
“My putting was more consistent today compared to the first two days,” Zaragosa said. “I’m so happy with the way I played today.”
The round’s turning point came on the par-4 ninth, where Zaragosa—outdriven by nearly 80 yards—wedged to within six feet and made birdie, while Jahns and Clyde Mondilla missed chances. He went on to birdie the 15th.
