Wacan edges Bisera’s albatross, wins JPGT Apo title

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Davao City – AJ Wacan rallied from two shots down with a dazzling front-nine finish, then held off a late surge from Adrian Bisera to capture the boys’ 15–18 division crown in the ICTSI Apo Golf Junior PGT Championship on Wednesday.

The 16-year-old carded a final-round 71 to edge Bisera by one stroke with a 54-hole total of 1-over 217.

Despite the tight finish, Wacan appeared in full control for most of the day, carrying a three-stroke lead heading into the par-5 18th, poised for a comfortable victory.

Then came the drama.

Bisera, battling a stiff headwind, pulled off a rare albatross—drilling a towering 4-iron from 230 yards after a perfect 3-wood tee shot.

The ball landed two pin-lengths short, bounced three times, and dropped straight into the hole.

The gallery erupted.

His closing 74 gave him a 218 total, but it wasn’t enough to overtake Wacan, who calmly two-putted for par to clinch his first major junior title.

Three-leg winner Alexis Nailga faltered with an 80 to finish a distant third at 231, while David Teves posted a 75 for fourth place at 232.

“It’s a great feeling to win at home,” said Wacan, who finished 11 strokes behind Bisera in last week’s South Pacific leg. “These past two weeks taught me how to stay light and happy on the course. I’ve learned to block out frustration and distractions and just enjoy the game.”

Looking ahead, he added: “I know I still have a lot to work on—especially my long game and putting—but I’m determined to keep improving.”

Down by two after 36 holes, Wacan surged ahead with back-to-back birdies starting on No. 7.

He sank an eight-footer on the par-3 seventh, then followed it with a four-foot birdie on No. 8, while Bisera stumbled with a bogey.

Another miscue from Bisera on No. 9 gave him a 40 on the front, while Wacan’s 35 handed him a three-shot edge at the turn.

Wacan had earlier posted an opening 72, but Bisera’s length helped him record four birdies in Round 2 to grab the lead entering the final day, eyeing back-to-back wins in the Mindanao leg of the regional series organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc.

On Wednesday, however, Bisera struggled for rhythm, registering five bogeys against just one birdie on the front nine.

Wacan stayed steady with an even-par back nine, logging one birdie and one bogey, while Bisera briefly threatened with a birdie on No. 11 but slipped again with bogeys on Nos. 12 and 15.

He capped his round with that electrifying final-hole albatross—rare in the sport and far less frequent than a hole-in-one.

It was a fitting climax, but not enough to dethrone Wacan.

Adding to the family triumph, AJ’s cousin Merry Rose Wacan claimed her breakthrough victory in the girls’ 15–18 category.

After a narrow loss to Del Monte’s Crista Miñoza at South Pacific, the 15-year-old bounced back strong, outclassing Del Monte leg winner Zero Plete by seven shots despite a final-round 83 in punishing heat.

Starting the day five strokes ahead, Merry Wacan surged ahead after Miñoza withdrew due to dizziness following a front-nine 45.

Plete stepped up as the nearest challenger but could only manage a 79 for second place at 244.

Mikela Guillermo shot 82 to finish third at 264.

“I’m really happy to get my first win here at Apo,” Merry said in Filipino. “This experience showed me how important it is to stay focused, no matter what’s going on around you.”

The Wacans joined fellow Davao standout Soleil Molde atop the winners’ list as the four-leg Mindanao swing of the seven-stage Visayas-Mindanao Series concluded.

Molde earlier won the girls’ 7–10 title, alongside boys’ 7–10 champion Jamie Barnes of Cagayan de Oro.

Also winning were 11–14 division standouts Jared Saban and Brittany Tamayo, both from South Cotabato.

Meanwhile, the final two Visayas legs—postponed due to the Mount Kanlaon eruption in May—are rescheduled for Sept. 15–17 at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club, and Sept. 18–20 at Bacolod Golf Club in Binitin, Murcia.

Tight competition is expected in the closing legs as players aim to secure slots for the ICTSI North vs. South Elite Junior Finals, set for Oct. 7–10 at The Country Club.

Only the top four players in each age division will qualify to face Luzon’s best.