Miñoza shocks Bisera

STA. ROSA, Laguna — Martina Miñoza moved two giant steps closer to a career breakthrough, delivering the tournament’s biggest upset by ousting defending champion Florence Bisera, 2&1, in Wednesday’s quarterfinals of the ICTSI The Country Club Match Play Invitational.

Though the margin might seem modest, it barely reflects how decisively Miñoza — long hailed as one of Del Monte’s brightest rising stars — controlled the match. She won two of the first six holes to build a commanding four-up cushion, her shot-making a mix of maturity and daring rarely seen from a young ace.

Bisera, last year’s champion who had beaten Mikha Fortuna, 2&1, mounted a late rally, trimming the deficit and threatening to shift momentum. But Miñoza responded with calm, pressure-proof pars down the stretch to close out the win on the 17th green.

The upset rattled pre-tournament predictions and overshadowed Marvi Monsalve’s first-round shocker over top seed Sarah Ababa, signaling that this year’s Ladies Philippine Golf Tour may belong to a new generation. Miñoza’s victory not only removes a heavyweight from contention but also proves she’s ready to challenge the tour’s biggest names on one of its toughest stages.

Her semifinal berth joins a last-four cast forged through tense, momentum-swinging duels — a clear reminder that on The Country Club’s demanding layout, no player holds a decisive edge.

Daniella Uy needed every ounce of grit to fend off Monsalve in a seesaw battle, eking out a nerve-wracking 1-up victory to set up a semifinal clash with Mafy Singson. Singson herself leaned on back-to-back birdies on Nos. 12 and 13 to shake off Tiffany Lee and claim a 3&1 win.

Meanwhile, Harmie Constantino showed trademark steadiness to subdue No. 3 seed Chanelle Avaricio, 3&2, in a match filled with lead changes and momentum swings, setting up a semifinal showdown with Miñoza — a fascinating clash of contrasting styles.

With the P1.5-million season-ending crown and the P280,000 top prize on the line, the semifinalists know that TCC demands cleverness, precision, and emotional control. Experience helps, but nerve and adaptability often matter more.

Singson, a veteran of the course since her junior golf days, feels that keenly. “I really want to win since I haven’t won here,” she said, recalling her early days at TCC. “I’ve been playing here since I was 12, so it would be really special to finally win.”

Even she admits there’s no clear favorite. “Lee was very aggressive, and my plan was just to play my game and avoid overdoing it — that’s where mistakes happen,” Singson said. Facing Uy in the semis, she expects another tactical test: “I’ll just try to make birdies and focus on each shot.”

What’s unfolding at TCC isn’t just a semifinal lineup — it’s a showcase of parity, resilience, and the kind of unpredictability that makes match play thrilling right to the final putt.