Bisera eyes Summit Point win before Korean LPGA debut

MANILA — Two victories in the first four legs have put Yvon Bisera firmly in the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour title hunt, and the Davao ace is seeking a third when the ICTSI Summit Point Championship begins Tuesday, Sept. 8, at Summit Point Golf and Country Club in Lipa City, Batangas.

For Bisera, however, the PHP 1 million championship is about more than adding another LPGT trophy.

It will also serve as her final major test at home before making her debut on the Korean LPGA Tour later this month, raising the stakes for the 2025 Thai LPGA Masters champion.

“I want to perform well at Summit Point kasi preparation ko din ‘to going to Korea,” said Bisera, who is set to compete in the Hana Financial Group Championship from Sept. 17 to 20 in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea.

The Hana Financial Group Championship is a 72-hole KLPGA Tour event at The Heaven Country Club in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province, with a total purse of KRW 1.5 billion.

Bisera has been in impressive form on the LPGT this season.

She outlasted two rivals in a playoff to capture the Lakewood Championship in March before producing a seven-shot victory at the Pradera Verde Championship in July.

The victories have established her as one of the tour’s leading contenders heading into the Summit Point showdown.

With her Korean LPGA debut fast approaching, Bisera has used the break between tournaments to fine-tune the part of her game she believes could prove decisive at Summit Point: her short game.

While waiting for her Korean visa documents, the Davaoeña has devoted extra time to sharpening her touch around the greens, particularly with strong winds potentially adding another layer of difficulty to the Batangas course.

“Focus ko talaga short game kasi it is very important sa Summit Point, lalo na pag malakas yung hangin,” said Bisera.

That focus could prove crucial in the 54-hole event, where a fast start can provide an early advantage and composure down the stretch could determine the champion.

Bisera, however, is not expecting another runaway performance like the one she produced at Pradera Verde.

“I really want to win pero lahat kami nag-prepare for this tournament,” she said. “But I will try my best to perform well para may confidence going to Korea.”

She will face plenty of opposition at Summit Point.

Reigning Order of Merit champion Sarah Ababa leads a compact but formidable field that also includes former leg winners Mafy Singson, Tiffany Lee, Chihiro Ikeda, and Princess Superal.

Korean challenger Kim Seoyun is also expected to contend, along with Martina Miñoza, Pamela Mariano, Velinda Castil, Rev Alcantara, Angela Mangana, and Gretchen Villacencio.