DAVAO CITY — AJ Wacan knew he had to dig deep. Two shots behind with 18 holes to play, the 16-year-old stormed back with a clutch performance at Apo Golf, holding off Adrian Bisera in a dramatic final-round showdown to win the boys’ 15-18 title at the ICTSI Apo Golf Junior PGT Championship on Wednesday.
Wacan fired a composed 1-under-par 71 to finish with a one-over 217 total, edging Bisera by a single stroke in a battle between hometown standouts. But while the final margin was tight, Wacan had actually built a commanding four-shot lead heading to the 18th, seemingly on cruise control.
Then, golf delivered one of its rarest surprises.
Bisera, facing a stiff headwind on the par-5 closing hole, pulled off something spectacular: a 230-yard 4-iron that bounced three times and disappeared into the cup for an albatross — one of the rarest feats in the sport. The crowd erupted.
Still, Wacan kept his composure. Needing just a par to win, he calmly two-putted to seal his first major junior title.
“It feels amazing to win here at home,” said Wacan in Filipino, still soaking in the moment. “Losing to Adrian by 11 strokes last week really motivated me. These past two weeks taught me to stay relaxed and enjoy the game, no matter what happens.”
Wacan’s steady mindset showed all day. After starting two shots back, he birdied Nos. 7 and 8, then watched Bisera stumble with a bogey on No. 8 and another on No. 9, giving Wacan a front-nine 35 and a three-stroke cushion at the turn.
While Bisera tried to claw back — even pulling within two with a birdie on No. 11 — more bogeys on Nos. 12 and 15 left him needing magic on the final hole. He found it, but Wacan’s cool under pressure held firm.
With an opening 72 and a solid finish, Wacan wrapped up the Mindanao swing on a high note — a huge bounce back from last week’s South Pacific leg, where Bisera had dominated.
Meanwhile, Alexis Nailga, a three-leg winner this season, carded an 80 to settle for third at 231, while David Teves finished fourth with a 75 for 232.
A Wacan double
The Wacan family had even more reason to celebrate.
Merry Rose Wacan, AJ’s 15-year-old cousin, clinched her first junior title in the girls’ 15-18 division, bouncing back from a near-miss last week to dominate the field with a 237 total — seven shots ahead of Del Monte leg winner Zero Plete, despite a closing 83 in searing heat.
Merry, who led by five heading into the final round, pulled away early after rival Crista Miñoza withdrew at the turn due to dizziness. Plete tried to make a charge but could only post a 79 for second, while Mikela Guillermo placed third at 264.
“I’m really happy to finally win here at Apo,” Merry said in Filipino. “I learned how important it is to stay focused and not get distracted by what’s happening around me. That mindset helped me stay steady.”
Strong finish to the Mindanao swing
The Wacans joined fellow Davao standout Soleil Molde on the winners’ list at the close of the four-leg Mindanao swing of the seven-stage Visayas-Mindanao Series.
Molde topped the girls’ 7-10 division, while Jamie Barnes of Cagayan de Oro ruled the boys’ side. Jared Saban and Brittany Tamayo, both from South Cotabato, won in the 11-14 division.
Visayas legs rescheduled
The final two legs of the Visayas series — postponed due to Mount Kanlaon’s eruption last May — have been rescheduled for 15 to 17 September at Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club, and 18 to 20 September at Bacolod Golf Club in Murcia.
With national finals slots on the line, the competition is expected to heat up.
The series serves as a qualifier for the ICTSI North vs South Elite Junior Finals set for 7 to 10 October at The Country Club, where the top four players in each division will battle Luzon’s best.