DAVAO. – Ramil Bisera and American Lexus Keoninh bucked the tough surface and carved out a pair of 68s behind scorching finishes at the front to take a one-stroke lead over Ira Alido Wednesday at the start of the ICTSI South Pacific Classic at South Pacific Golf & Leisures Estates here.
Bisera, one of the few unheralded players from talent-rich Davao who made just three cuts in seven tournaments in this year’s Philippine Golf Tour, put on his best card in years — a bogey-free 34-34 marked by two birdies in the last three holes on each nine that stood as one of the course records, this being the first pro tournament at the newly-built 7018-yard championship layout developed by Sta. Lucia Development, Inc.
“The greens are very tricky,” said Bisera, who relied on sister-caddy Jacqueline’s help on the unreceptive surface that bedeviled the games of majority of the fancied names in the 72-hole championship organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
“Everything actually clicked — off the tee, iron play and putting. I just hope to sustain my game and finally score a victory,” said the 45-year-old Bisera, backed by long-time patron Hermie Martin.
Keoninh, whose form took a dip with missed cut stints at the PGT Pueblo de Oro and Del Monte legs and a 28th place finish in Apo the last four weeks, birdied the last three holes at the back to share first day honors in the P3 million event capping the milestone 10th season of the circuit sponsored by ICTSI.