Bisera targets mindset as ICTSI Del Monte begins

1 of 6

BUKIDNON — While many golfers sharpen every facet of their game for marquee events, Florence Bisera is leaning on mental fortitude as she chases another crown.

The ICTSI Del Monte Championship tees off today, Tuesday, Oct. 14, at Del Monte Golf Club with Bisera leading a competitive field of champions and challengers eager to halt her winning run.

“Gusto ko lang i-maintain kung paano ako naglaro nung nanalo ako – ma-control ang emotions, maglaro ng walang pressure at mag-enjoy,” said Bisera, outlining the mindset that fueled her recent Ladies Philippine Golf Tour success.

The rising Davaoeña star captured the LPGT Negros Occidental title over Korean standout Kim Seoyun then clinched a breakthrough win in Thailand last month, building confidence for this 54-hole event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

“The wins make my confidence high, pero hindi ko pine-pressure sarili ko,” she added, noting she expects her approach and strategy to keep her in contention over the next three days.

Bisera returns to Del Monte after placing third in 2023 on the tricky par-72 layout won by Daniella Uy, and she has since added a local breakthrough at South Pacific and the Match Play Championship at The Country Club.

Uy headlines the pursuers alongside this season’s LPGT leg winners Mafy Singson at Eagle Ridge and Chanelle Avaricio at Forest Hills, with veterans Sarah Ababa and Chihiro Ikeda also primed for a title push.

Harmie Constantino seeks to regain last year’s dominant form after a slow 2025, while Korean rookie Tiffany Lee aims to rebound from uneven finishes since a strong 2024 debut at Splendido Taal.

Local hopefuls Pamela Mariano, Velinda Castil and amateur Zero Plete look to leverage course familiarity, as Marvi Monsalve returns to LPGT action and young gun Kayla Nocum chases a breakthrough win.

After her Thailand victory, Bisera flew home to Davao to resume training for the three-leg Mindanao swing that ends at South Pacific Golf and Residential Estates, her home course.

“Same lang kung paano ako usually maglaro,” said Bisera, adding “Control emotions, play pressure-free, and enjoy.”

On the men’s side, local aces Clyde Mondilla and Reymon Jaraula know Del Monte’s tight, tree-lined fairways demand more than home-course knowledge to dominate again.

The duo finished 1–2 when the Philippine Golf Tour last visited in 2023, but ahead of the PHP 3.5 million event firing off today both are tempering expectations with focus and hunger.

“Comfortable ako sa home course ko kasi madalas ko siyang nilalaro, pero hindi ko siya binabale-wala,” said Mondilla, who edged Jaraula by one after an eagle-fueled start and three closing birdies two years ago.

“Iba pa rin ang bawat round,” he added, noting “May mga bago kang matututunan,” and emphasizing focus, playing his game and respecting the course.

“Confident ako kasi familiar na ako sa course and hopefully, magagamit ko ‘yung advantage ko,” said three-time PGT winner Jaraula, eager to flip the script after contrasting Marapara results with Mondilla.

Legend Frankie Miñoza returns to the mountain-top layout he helped define, acknowledging that current form and mental resilience matter as much as familiarity.

Keanu Jahns leads a deep cast after two wins and two runner-up finishes in six PGT starts, despite his three-peat bid being stalled by Rupert Zaragosa at Marapara.

“Same as always, take it one shot at a time and stick to my routine,” Jahns said, adding “Del Monte’s tighter layout may favor accuracy more than length, so I’ll adapt accordingly during the practice round.”

Zaragosa’s precision makes him a prime threat on tree-lined setups, and he said “Kasi mahilig ako at bagay ang laro ko sa mga course na tree-lined,” while stressing process and instincts.

Veterans Tony Lascuña and Jhonnel Ababa aim to peak before the final two legs of the PHP 10.5 million Mindanao swing in Davao, joined by Forest Hills winner Guido van der Valk, Zanieboy Gialon, Michael Bibat, Ira Alido and Nilo Salahog.

Young guns Ryan Monsalve, Russell Bautista, Kristoffer Arevalo, Elee Bisera and John Michael Uy chase statement results, while foreign hopefuls Collin Wheeler, Jisung Cheon, Tae Soo Kim, Jaehyun Jung, Taewon Ha and Atsushi Ueda look to spoil the locals.

With Order of Merit races tightening and the Mindanao swing setting up season-capping events, Del Monte’s accuracy-first test promises one of the most unpredictable battles yet.