STA. ROSA, Laguna – Arnold Villacencio, on the verge of bowing out of the tournament, credits his daughter Gretchen for reigniting his determination to fight on.
In a storybook turnaround, the 55-year-old veteran outclassed Albin Engino, 4&3, to seize the ICTSI The Country Club Match Play Invitational crown at the TCC course here on Friday.
In a final matchup no one expected, Villacencio overcame exhaustion and fierce competition to claim an improbable victory. After a tentative front nine, he surged ahead by going 3-up at the 13th hole before sealing the win on the next.
The triumph ended a decade-long title drought for Villacencio, who could hardly believe his achievement.
“Hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala na ako ang nanalo (I still can’t believe that I won),” said Villacencio, whose victory came amid challenging conditions and a physically grueling tournament. “Pero bilib pa rin ako sa sarili ko – ako ang pinakamatanda dito, pero natalo ko ang mga mas bata. Siyempre, sa tulong na rin ni Lord (But I’m proud of myself – I’m the oldest here, yet I managed to beat the younger players. Of course, it’s all thanks to the Lord).”
The weather added drama to Villacencio’s campaign. While the final round was played under cooler conditions, the first three days were defined by punishing heat that almost forced him to withdraw from Thursday’s semifinal match against Hyun Ho Rho.
Despite trailing by three holes midway in that match, Villacencio staged a gritty comeback, eventually securing a 2-up victory with his daughter’s unwavering belief fueling his resolve.
“Nagpapasalamat din ako sa anak ko. Kasi sa semis, gusto ko ng umayaw sa pagod, pero sabi nya ‘lumaban ka, tapusin mo ang laban’ (I’m also grateful to my daughter. During the semifinals, I wanted to give up because I was so exhausted, but they told me, ‘Keep fighting, finish the match),” said Villacencio said of Gretchen, who reminded him of his chances even in the most difficult moments.
Engino, meanwhile, had also pulled off an upset in the semis, edging past the more favored Jay Bayron, 1-up.
With momentum seemingly on his side and conventional wisdom favoring him in the final, Engino looked poised for a breakthrough.
Yet, Villacencio’s unexpected run proved that, especially in golf’s unpredictable match-play format, no lead or advantage is ever secure.
“Marami siyang (Engino) na-miss na putting par, kaya naka-3-up agad ako front nine (He (Engino) missed a lot of putting pars, so I went 3-up right away on the front nine),” said Villacencio.
When asked about the difference in his game back in 2014 at Summit Point, he said:
The win, worth P280,000, capped off a remarkable season-ending championship sponsored by ICTSI and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. reaffirming Villacencio’s place among the sport’s most resilient competitors.
Engino pocketed P200,000, while Bayron outlasted Rho, 3&1, for third place honors worth P150,000, with the Korean settling for P120,000 fourth place prize.
Villacencio’s victory also capped the PGT’s most unpredictable season, where different winners emerged across all 10 stroke-play legs, highlighting the depth of competition.
Adding to the season’s surprises, an unexpected champion rose to claim glory in the match-play finale, cementing the year as one of the tour’s most exciting, dynamic chapters, marked by constant shifts in momentum and startling outcomes.
Bisera foils Fortuna, captures TCC Match Play crown
Meanwhile, STA. ROSA, Laguna – Florence Bisera mirrored Arnold Villacencio’s success in the men’s division of the ICTSI The Country Club Match Play Invitational, though their triumphs came through very different paths.
While Villacencio drew strength from his daughter Gretchen’s unwavering faith, Bisera leaned on the steady presence of her father, Reynaldo, who played a pivotal role as her caddie.
“Nakatulong ng malaki si Papa kasi nako-control niya ang emotions ko. Kapag kinakabahan na ako, andun cya para i-comfort ako (My Papa was a big help because he helped me control my emotions. Whenever I got nervous, he was there to comfort me),” said Bisera, after edging out Mikha Fortuna’s bid for a back-to-back championship with a hard-fought 2&1 victory here on Friday. “Magaling din siyang magbasa ng green (He’s also great at reading the greens).”
The Davaoeña golfer, who bowed out in the first round here last year, seized control early in the final in overcast skies, winning three of the first five holes as Fortuna struggled to find her rhythm.
Despite calm conditions at the impeccably maintained TCC course, Bisera navigated its challenges masterfully, capitalizing on Fortuna’s tentative start to take an early lead in the high-stakes final.
Bisera stayed composed throughout, even as rain added a layer of difficulty mid-round. She thwarted every comeback attempt by the defending champion, delivering clutch pars at critical moments.
When Fortuna narrowed the gap to one hole on the 15th, Bisera responded with a brilliant approach shot on the challenging par-4 16th, leaving herself a birdie putt. She confidently sank it, regaining a two-hole cushion.
On the par-3 17th, Bisera held her ground, matching Fortuna’s par to close out the match with a 2&1 victory and claim the championship title, along with the P280,000 prize.
Reflecting on her win, Bisera shared how this triumph felt the same from her maiden title at the South Pacific Classic in Davao last year. However, this time, she prevailed in a far more unpredictable match-play format against the elite of the Ladies PGT and on a demanding course.
“I’m both happy with both wins. Mas masaya lang ako ngayon kasi na-prove ko sa sarili ko na kaya kong manalo hindi lang sa home course ko, pati din sa ibang course (I’m even happier now because I proved to myself that I can win not just on my home course but also on other courses),” she said.
Ranked No. 5 in the 16-player field, Bisera’s path to the title was anything but easy. She dispatched Velinda Castil, 4&2, in the first round, dominated Rev Alcantara, 4&3, in the quarterfinals, and survived a tense 1-up semis battle against Daniella Uy.
Fortuna, on the other hand, had a more grueling route to the finals. She edged Jiwon Lee on the 19th hole in her opening match, narrowly beat Kristine Fleetwood, 1-up, but showcased her readiness to defend her crown by defeating Marvi Monsalve, 3&1, in the semis.
Their showdown in the 18-hole final started on equal footing, but Bisera’s ability to impose her will early, maintain momentum and deliver clutch shots secured her the win.
“I didn’t expect to control the match, kasi I know magaling si Mikha sa Match Play. Medyo nag-struggle lang siya sa putting, kaya nakalamang agad ako (because I know Mikha is good at Match Play. She just struggled a bit with her putting, which allowed me to take the lead early on),” said Bisera, who also dedicated her victory to her family and to God.
Fortuna took home P200,000.
Meanwhile, Monsalve and Uy turned their battle for third place into a tightly contested duel, with the former finally prevailing on the 22nd hole. She earned P150,000, while Uy settled for fourth and pocketed P120,000.
