Mafy Singson won her first professional crown by overcoming Florence Bisera in a nerve-wracking playoff in the ICTSI Eagle Ridge Championship in General Trias, Cavite, on Wednesday.
Despite scorching conditions and mounting pressure, Singson’s clutch performance earned her a well-deserved title win.
The showdown was a battle of nerves. On the first sudden death hole back on No. 18, Singson overshot the green but managed to salvage a par off a superb chip shot. Bisera, meanwhile, had a long birdie attempt but failed to capitalize, forcing both players back to the tee.
In a sudden twist, Singson reached regulation on their second attempt at the par-4 closing hole, while Bisera missed the green and failed to get up-and-down. With a steady two-putt par, Singson closed the game and earned her milestone moment.
The road to the playoffs was long and winding. Singson drained a crucial birdie putt on No. 16 and parred the last two holes to save a 78, forcing a tie at 232 with Bisera, who had surged ahead with an impressive 32 on the back nine, highlighted by an eagle on No. 12. Bisera’s final round 72 was the day’s best in grueling conditions.
“I was nervous heading into the playoff since it was my first sudden death experience,” said Singson.
“But I reminded myself that I’ve trained for this, so I just had to trust my ability to perform under pressure.”
Despite lingering nerves, she executed a clutch par save, shifting the pressure onto Bisera, who faltered in their return to the 18th.
“By the second sudden death hole, I treated it like a regular round rather than a playoff, and that helped me stay composed,” added Singson, who pocketed P90,000 for her first pro win.
The brutal conditions at the challenging Faldo course pushed players to their limits, with shifting winds and the relentless heat sending scores soaring.
Singson proved she could endure and excel despite the harshest tests of skill.
Tiffany Lee finished third at 234 after a final round of 73, while Chanelle Avaricio and Sarah Ababa shared fourth at 235. First-round leader Gretchen Villacencio, who had surged back into contention at the turn, faded with late bogeys and double bogeys, closing with a 79 for seventh at 237.
Reflecting on her hard-earned victory, Singson emphasized the importance of patience.
“I learned this week that you can’t fight the course. You have to respect it, take your pars, and understand that in these conditions, a par often feels like a birdie,” she said.
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