Daddy’s girl

DAVAO CITY — Sarah Ababa once more proved that heart and composure under fire can outshine even the hottest start, conjuring another of her signature back-nine rallies to fire a 65 and snatch a breathtaking one-stroke victory over hometown ace Florence Bisera in the ICTSI South Pacific Classic here on Thursday.

Just two weeks after staging a similar come-from-behind win at Del Monte — where she edged Chanelle Avaricio in two playoff holes — Ababa found herself in an eerily familiar position: Chasing, doubted yet undeterred.

This time, she trailed by three shots with nine holes to play. And her opponent wasn’t just anyone — it was Bisera, a player who practically owns the South Pacific course, having mastered its every undulation and breeze.

Bisera looked unstoppable early, blitzing the front nine with a blistering seven-under 29 built on five straight birdies from No. 5. Her red-hot assault left the gallery buzzing and her rivals gasping. Even Ababa admitted to a flicker of doubt as Bisera seemed to have the tournament all but wrapped up.

“I had some doubts after she played her front nine,” Ababa said with a laugh.

“But my father said that the round is not just nine holes. I still have a lot of chances to redeem myself. That’s what motivated me.”

Her father, veteran tour player Edgar Ababa, once again served as her anchor, reminding her that golf — so often cruel and unpredictable — always offers a chance to turn things around until the last putt drops.

And turn it around she did.

Ababa started her counterattack on the inward nine with quiet determination. A birdie on the par-4 12th reignited her momentum. Another on No. 14 sent a murmur through the crowd — Bisera’s once-commanding lead had shrunk to just one.

As the Davao heat bore down, Bisera’s touch cooled. The putts that fell so easily earlier began to slide past the edges. Meanwhile, Ababa looked reborn — focused, fearless and fated.

Then came the 17th.

After splitting the fairway with a laser drive, Ababa stood 70 yards out. She lofted a wedge that landed inches past the cup, spun back, and nearly dropped for eagle. A tap-in birdie tied her with Bisera at 10-under, setting up a heart-stopping finish.

“The battle was so tight but I had good yardage in the last two holes,” Ababa said.

“The 70 yards in the 17th hole and 110 yards in the 18th hole were my comfort distances. I’m more confident there.”

With the momentum fully in her hands, Ababa played the par-5 18th like a champion. Another precise approach shot — this time from 110 yards — landed softly and stopped inches from the hole. She calmly tapped in her second straight birdie to take the outright lead at 11-under.

Bisera’s final birdie attempt slid by. Her equally brilliant 65 wasn’t enough. Ababa raised her arms in triumph — an echo of Del Monte, another comeback born of steel nerves and an unyielding belief.

Ababa’s 11-under 205 total earned her the P114,000 champion’s purse and, more importantly, solidified her reputation as the circuit’s comeback queen. More so, she firmed up her bid for the coveted Order of Merit title.

Bisera settled for second at 206, while Avaricio — who clinched the Apo leg last week — carded a 67 to finish third at 208. Princess Superal followed closely with a 67 of her own for a 209 total, also posting a bogey-free round on a day when spotless scorecards seemed more the norm than the exception.

Tiffany Lee’s early fireworks of three straight birdies to gain a share of the early with Ababa fizzled into a fifth-place 210 after a 68, while Harmie Constantino (68-214) and Daniella Uy (74-216) rounded out the top contenders.

In jest, Ababa teased her father afterward.

“I told him that if he caddied for me at Apo, I could have swept the Mindanao swing,” she said with a grin, referring to her father, who had chosen to compete in the men’s tournament, leaving Ababa with her regular caddie — and she struggled, finishing only 10th.

From Del Monte to South Pacific, Ababa’s flair for dramatics continues to dazzle. And if her recent form is any indication, there may be many more thrilling finishes to come.