Bisera, Miñoza nail first wins

DAVAO CITY — Local ace Adrian Bisera and Bukidnon’s Crista Miñoza made headlines Friday after bagging their first victories in the ICTSI Junior PGT Series, closing out the South Pacific Championship in contrasting but equally impressive fashion.

With solid leads heading into the final round at the South Pacific Golf and Residential Estates, both young golfers — who come from proud golf lineages — rose to the occasion under the scorching Davao sun.

Bisera, competing in his Junior PGT debut, proved unshakable over the final two rounds. Armed with a five-shot lead after 36 holes, the 17-year-old Davaoeño widened the gap with birdies on Holes 8 and 9, cruising to a 72 despite a double bogey on the last hole. He still won by a whopping 11 strokes with a total of even-par 216.

“I got nervous on the last hole — there were so many people watching,” Bisera admitted with a grin. “But I’m happy I pulled through. I just felt like I had to deliver.”

To calm his nerves, Bisera — who regularly trains at the course — said he kept it light. “I just stayed relaxed, chatted with my flightmates, and had some laughs,” he said.

AJ Wacay, also from Davao, carded a 77 to place second at 227, while Armand Copok — seeking redemption after near-wins in Del Monte and Pueblo de Oro — slid to third with a 79 for a 228 finish.

Bisera’s win not only boosts his confidence but also puts him on track for a slot in the Elite Junior Finals set in October. But he’ll need to play in the Apo leg next week and at least one Visayas leg to qualify.

Miñoza, meanwhile, took a different route to victory.

After three close calls in earlier legs — including a pair of runner-up finishes — the 17-year-old finally broke through. She built a six-shot cushion with a sparkling second-round 71, but had to grind through a tense back nine to fend off hometown bet Merry Rose Wacan.

“This win means a lot to me,” Miñoza said. “All the hard work and training really paid off. I’m grateful to everyone who supported me — especially Ms. Tiffany Chua-Copok and my uncle, Tito Frankie (Miñoza), for his guidance and encouragement.”

Despite a stumble on the island-green 15th, where she made double bogey, Miñoza held her ground. A steady par on 17 gave her back a three-shot lead, enough to close out with a 78 and a winning total of 226.

Wacan birdied the last hole for a 74 to finish two shots behind at 228, while Del Monte champ Zero Plete settled for third with an 83 and a 243 total.

With their wins, Bisera and Miñoza now join earlier age-group champions in the race to qualify for the Elite Junior Finals at The Country Club in October, where only the top four in each division advance based on cumulative performances across at least three legs.

In the younger divisions, Denise Eliana Mendoza scored her second title in the girls’ 7–10 class, while Jamie Barnes continued his hot streak with a third straight win in the boys’ side.

In the 11–14 division, Jared Saban and Brittany Tamayo took the spotlight, giving them added momentum as the Visayas-Mindanao swing continues Monday at Apo Golf and Country Club.

With one final leg left in the regional series, the race to The Country Club is heating up — and so is the spotlight on the next generation of Philippine golf stars.