Go leads Pradera finale; Bisera rules LPGT

LUBAO, Pampanga — Lloyd Go survived wind, rain and shifting momentum Thursday to seize a one-shot lead after three rounds of the ICTSI Pradera Verde Championship at the Arayat course.

Go fired a five-under 67 to reach eight-under 208, moving 18 holes away from a second straight Philippine Golf Tour victory.

Clyde Mondilla matched Go’s 67 to move into solo second at 209.

Randy Garalde and Rupert Zaragosa shot identical 68s to tie Tony Lascuña, who settled for a 71, at 210.

Halfway leader Keanu Jahns slipped after an erratic finish but stayed in contention at 211 after a 75.

Jahns was tied for sixth with Angelo Que, who carded a 70.

Seven players are separated by only three strokes entering Friday’s final round, setting up a wide-open finish on a Pradera Verde layout that has rewarded aggression but punished mistakes throughout the week.

The Arayat course has offered birdie chances to players willing to attack, but the changing weather has made momentum difficult to sustain.

Go’s latest surge came on the back nine, where he produced five birdies after playing the tougher front side in even-par 36.

The Cebuano standout said the victory chase fits into his immediate goals before resuming his overseas campaign.

“My goal is to finish strong at Pinewoods and Pradera to guarantee my slot for The Country Club Invitational,” said Go, referring to PGT’s flagship tournament, which he missed this year after finishing outside the Top 30 of the previous Order of Merit due to his overseas commitments.

Go’s latest title push follows his dominant wire-to-wire triumph at Pinewoods, where he opened with a 64 despite not having a practice round.

At Pradera Verde, Go opened with a 72 before improving with a 69 on Wednesday.

He finally took command of the closing holes Thursday behind precise wedge play and a hot putter.

“Lately I’ve been putting better. I hit my wedges better and made a lot of long putts on the back nine,” said Go. “Patience lang. I tried to be steady since the front nine is hard.”

The turning point came after Jahns faltered with a costly double bogey in the water on the par-4 14th.

Go capitalized with a brilliant wedge from 104 yards on the par-4 16th that stopped inches from the hole, setting up a tap-in birdie and the outright lead.

“My confidence is okay. Hopefully, I will play well again tomorrow and get another win,” he said.

Mondilla remains close behind as he seeks to end a title drought.

The multi-titled Bukidnon player birdied Nos. 13, 15 and 18 to complete a 67 and recover from the damage caused by two double bogeys in Wednesday’s 72.

Mondilla is also looking to build momentum before an upcoming campaign in Taiwan.

Garalde moved into contention with one of the steadiest rounds of the day, a bogey-free 68 that kept him within two shots of the lead.

Zaragosa also stayed in the hunt with a 68 built on four birdies.

Lascuña remained dangerous despite a roller-coaster round of three birdies and three bogeys, closing with a birdie on No. 17 for a 71.

Jahns, the Fil-German contender, remains a threat despite his third-round stumble.

Jahns has shown the ability to go low this season and will try to rebound from missed opportunities at Caliraya Springs and Pinewoods.

Que, a three-time Asian Tour champion, is three strokes behind but remains one of the field’s most accomplished closers.

The men’s tournament enters its final round with no clear margin for comfort, as the unpredictable Pradera Verde conditions continue to shape one of the Tour’s most tightly contested events of the season.

In the women’s division, Yvon Bisera delivered a commanding response to her recent struggles by winning the ICTSI Pradera Verde Championship by seven shots over Chihiro Ikeda.

Bisera closed with a 71 for a 54-hole total of 209 at the Arayat course.

The Davaoeña earned the champion’s purse of PHP 101,250.

The win came after Bisera endured a disappointing finish at Pinewoods in Baguio while nursing a hand injury.

Unlike her victory at Lakewood last March, where she survived a tense three-way playoff, Bisera controlled the final round after carrying a three-shot overnight lead.

Ikeda shot a 72 to finish runner-up at 216.

Harmie Constantino, an early challenger, struggled after a front-nine 40 and closed with a 76 for third place at 217.

Daniella Uy carded a 70 to claim fourth at 218.

Gretchen Villacencio shot a 73 to finish fifth at 220.

Princess Superal made a 74 to share sixth at 225 with Chanelle Avaricio, who stumbled with a 79.

Tiffany Lee placed eighth at 226 after a 77.

Kayla Nocum and Martina Miñoza matched 76s to tie for ninth at 227.

Bisera said she relied on patience, precision and course management while dealing with the hand injury she sustained during the Pinewoods campaign.

The Pradera Verde layout also suited her eye because of its similarities to her home course at South Pacific Golf Club in Davao.

“I’m really happy to win again,” said Bisera in Filipino, who bounced back from a shaky front-nine 37 by birdieing three straight holes starting at No. 10, effectively extinguishing any hopes of a comeback from Ikeda, Constantino and the rest of the field.

“My hand started to hurt when it rained, but the good thing was the weather warmed up again, so it gradually felt better,” said Bisera, referring to the injury that ultimately did little to slow her down as she cruised to a commanding victory.

Bisera opened the final round with a bogey but quickly regained control with birdies on Nos. 2 and 4.

As gray skies, light winds and an eventual downpour tested the field, Bisera’s lead never came under serious threat.

The victory was Bisera’s second in just four Ladies Philippine Golf Tour starts.

The result also underlined the changing fortunes on the women’s circuit.

Avaricio, who rallied to win at the demanding Pinewoods course in Baguio, struggled on the flatter and wider Mike Singgaran-designed Pradera Verde layout.

Avaricio finished with a seven-over card, while Bisera rebounded from a 10th-place finish at Pinewoods.

“I give all the credit for this win to God and my family,” said Bisera. “I didn’t expect to win by such a big margin because Harmie is a tough competitor, especially in the final round. I just kept telling myself that I needed to shoot under par on the last day.”

Bisera’s victory also strengthened her bid for a maiden Order of Merit title in the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc.

For Bisera, the pain and frustration she carried from Baguio became the spark for an emphatic return to the winner’s circle.

For Go and the men’s contenders, Pradera Verde still has one more volatile round left to decide the championship.