Bisera, Jahns lead Pradera Verde after gritty rounds

Edited by Francis Allan L. Angelo

LUBAO, Pampanga — Yvon Bisera battled a lingering left-hand injury and an hourlong weather delay, shooting a second straight 69 to take a three-shot lead after two rounds of the ICTSI Pradera Verde Championship on Wednesday at the Arayat course.

Bisera barely put a foot wrong in another steady display, shaking off an early challenge from first-round co-leader Harmie Constantino before taking control with timely birdies and disciplined recovery play.

The Davao native birdied Nos. 2 and 3 to pull clear of Constantino, then bounced back from a bogey on the par-4 fifth with birdies on Nos. 10 and 12.

Bisera recovered from another miscue on No. 17 with a birdie on the last, preserving a second three-under card for a 36-hole total of 6-under 138.

The 18-hole leader moved into prime position to claim her second Ladies Philippine Golf Tour title of the season after winning the ICTSI Lakewood Championship in a playoff in March.

“I played much steadier yesterday. I didn’t make a single bogey,” said Bisera in Filipino as she compared her first two rounds.

Bisera rued a costly three-putt on the par-4 fifth that stalled her birdie-birdie start, but she regained her rhythm with three birdies against one bogey on the back nine to seize firm control entering the final round of the PHP 750,000 championship.

Constantino lost ground after mixing two birdies with two bogeys for an even-par 72, dropping to second at 141.

Chihiro Ikeda struggled to a 74 but held third at 144, leaving the rest of the field needing low final-round scores to mount a serious title challenge.

Chanelle Avaricio, who rallied from behind to capture the Pinewoods crown last week, slipped further off the pace with a 75 after an opening 71.

Avaricio’s 146 total left her eight strokes behind Bisera entering the final round.

Gretchen Villacencio produced a 70 to climb to fifth at 147, although she remained nine shots back.

Daniella Uy carded a second straight 74 for a 148 total to stay in the mix, but she faces a steep uphill battle.

Bisera credited her comfort on the challenging layout to her familiarity with the greens and the course setup.

“I feel more comfortable on greens like these because they’re becoming familiar to me,” she said. “I also like the yardage since most of my approach shots are from within 120 yards, which really suits my game.”

Her confidence on the greens and favorable approach distances have allowed Bisera to play more aggressively while maintaining consistency.

Still, despite carrying a commanding lead into the final 18 holes, Bisera knows there is little room for complacency.

“I just need to keep playing steadily and avoid any more three-putts,” she said. “Hopefully, my hand won’t bother me anymore as well.”

With one round left, Bisera remains focused on executing her game plan, knowing another composed performance could be enough to seal another championship.

Her impressive showing this week comes despite a nagging hand injury that has limited her in recent tournaments.

After a confidence-boosting runner-up finish at the Singapore Ladies Masters, Bisera managed a fifth-place finish at Caliraya Springs before slipping to 10th at Pinewoods last week, a mountain course she acknowledged did not complement her game.

The relatively flatter terrain of Pradera Verde’s Arayat layout, however, has brought out the best in her game.

Comfortable off the tee and precise with her irons, Bisera has backed up her belief with consecutive three-under rounds, combining patience, consistency, and resilience to emerge as the player to beat heading into the final round.

Jahns takes command in men’s play

Meanwhile, Keanu Jahns capitalized on another scoring opportunity at Pradera Verde Golf and Country Club, delivering a second straight 68 to seize control of the ICTSI Pradera Verde Championship and open a three-shot lead over Tony Lascuña at the halfway mark.

Not even a late-round downpour, accompanied by lightning and thunderstorms that forced a one-hour suspension of play, could derail Jahns’ charge back to the top of the leaderboard.

Jahns calmly closed with four straight pars for a pair of 34s and a 36-hole total of 136 in a round that began under sweltering heat and ended in stormy conditions.

“My ball-striking was much better today. I hit more greens, made the same number of putts and cut my bogeys down to just one after making three in the opening round,” said Jahns.

He said his length off the tee is a major asset on the wide layout but emphasized that his smart-aggressive approach has been just as important.

“Power is a big advantage here because the course is wide and suits longer hitters. I play smart-aggressive, and it fits my game,” he said.

Carl Corpus matched Jahns with birdies on Nos. 10 and 12 to stay in contention but stumbled with bogeys on Nos. 15 and 18.

A birdie on No. 1 briefly reignited Corpus’ charge before a costly double bogey on No. 9 led to a 73, dropping him into a tie for third at 140 alongside first-round co-leader Russel Bautista, who also hobbled with a one-over card.

Lascuña leaned on a sharp short game and steady putting to offset his lack of length off the tee, firing a 71 to take solo second at 139.

Fresh from his dominant Pinewoods victory, Lloyd Go rebounded from an opening 72 with a blistering back-nine 32 but settled for a 69 after a bogey on No. 2.

At 141, Go shared fifth with Ira Alido and Albin Engino, who matched 70s, and Gab Manotoc, Collin Wheeler, and defending Pradera Verde-Pinatubo champion Angelo Que, who all shot 72s.

Zanieboy Gialon, who also opened with a 67, slipped with a 74 marred by a double bogey on the par-3 eighth, falling into the group at three under overall.

Forty-two players made the cut at 150, including James Ryan Lam (75), John Michael Uy (76), Jobim Carlos (78), and amateur Jed Dy (75).

Despite the absence of the wind that often defines the challenge at the sprawling complex, Arayat again proved it could stand on its own as a formidable test for the men’s field.

Any notion that the course would be vulnerable without its usual gusts was quickly dispelled, as its maze of bunkers, firm fairways, and slick greens continued to demand precision from tee to green.

After surrendering 18 under-par rounds in the opening round, the course tightened its grip in the second, with only 13 players finishing below par.

Arayat’s exacting layout placed a premium on shot-making, pinpoint iron play, and a confident touch on the greens, underscoring that even in calm conditions, it remains one of the circuit’s toughest courses.

Jahns was pleased to finish with four straight pars despite the challenging wind, although he felt he could have gone even lower.

“I missed a few short putts, but they were more misreads than bad strokes. The greens are a little tricky to read,” he said.

Beyond taking command of the PHP 2 million fourth leg of the Philippine Golf Tour, Jahns is fueled by something far more personal: redemption.

After letting a golden opportunity slip away at Caliraya Springs, where a costly one-hole mistake stymied his title bid, Jahns struggled to recover at Pinewoods and limped to a share of 28th.

Those disappointing finishes, however, only sharpened his resolve.

Now back in contention, the long-hitting Filipino-German is determined to finish what he started.

“I’m always motivated. I love competing, so I’ll just take it one shot at a time and hope for the best,” Jahns said.

Jahns carried the momentum of a stirring four-birdie surge over his final seven holes in Tuesday’s opening round into another brilliant display Wednesday, birdieing four of his first 12 holes after starting from the back nine.

Despite the sweltering heat and demanding pin placements made even tougher by Pradera Verde’s slick, undulating greens, Jahns stayed patient and composed.

He rebounded from a mishap on No. 4 with a birdie on the next, then closed with a run of gutsy pars to cap a round that reaffirmed both his form and his determination to atone for recent heartbreaks.

Still, the tournament is far from decided.

With 36 holes remaining, Jahns may hold a comfortable cushion, but Pradera Verde has shown it can humble even the hottest player.

The demanding layout rewards smart course management as much as power, meaning precision, patience, and sound decision-making could prove more decisive than length off the tee.

Despite the challenging conditions, Lascuña stayed within striking distance, leaning on his experience and precision around the greens to keep his title hopes alive.

“The course is very tough, especially with the pin placements and the greens. But I’m still in the fight. I’m hoping to stay within striking distance tomorrow and give myself a chance on Friday,” said Lascuña in Filipino.

Lascuña narrowly lost to Angelo Que by one stroke in a dramatic final-round duel at Caliraya Springs.

Five birdies highlighted Lascuña’s round, including a three-hole streak from No. 9 that matched his first-round performance and underscored his mastery over the turn.