Hole-in-one at Apo gives Davao's Yvon Bisera the LPGT Order of Merit title

Davao City's Yvon Bisera clinched the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour (LPGT) Order of Merit (OOM) title with a hole-in-one in the season-ending leg at Apo Golf and Country Club, winning one of the closest races in the circuit's history, according to SunStar.

Bisera ended the eight-leg season with P704,150 in earnings, edging Harmie Constantino, who finished with P699,600. The margin was P4,550.

Bisera had opened the season with two wins but did not win another leg. She lost to Chanelle Avaricio by one stroke at Summit Point, finished two shots behind Tiffany Lee at Pueblo de Oro, and placed fourth at South Pacific, her home course. She still held the OOM lead going into the Apo finale.

At Apo, Bisera shot 74 and 73 in the first two rounds, opening the door for Constantino, who went on to win the leg by two strokes. At one point Bisera was on track to finish sixth and lose the season title by about P2,000. Her ace on the 17th hole moved her into a tie for third with Avaricio and Princess Superal, earning her P83,750, enough to stay on top.

"That hole-in-one on the final day was probably the biggest turning point," Bisera said. She credited her two wins and two runner-up finishes for keeping her in contention and said she hopes the title will boost her confidence for upcoming international tournaments.

Lee placed third in the standings with P650,000, followed by Avaricio, who won three legs, with P588,600. Defending champion Sarah Ababa finished fifth with P491,450 after a winless season.

On the men's side, Angelo Que won his second straight Philippine Golf Tour (PGT) OOM title with P1.445 million. Early victories at Caliraya Springs and Summit Point gave him a cushion he held even though he did not finish in the top five in the last five legs while also playing on the Asian Tour.

Sarangani's Jeffren Lumbo, who still had a mathematical chance going into Apo, tied for 18th there and placed second overall with P1.230 million. Clyde Mondilla was third with P1.223 million, Rupert Zaragosa fourth with P1.038 million, and Keanu Jahns fifth with P982,550.