STA. ROSA, LAGUNA—Arnold Villacencio and Florence Bisera captured the men’s and women’s titles, respectively, at the ICTSI The Country Club Match Play Invitational on Friday.

Villacencio, 55, defeated Albin Engino via a 4&3 victory that marked a triumphant end to a ten-year title drought. He later credited his daughter Gretchen for reigniting his determination during a physically grueling tournament.

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“I still can’t believe that I won,” he said, emphasizing the pivotal role of his daughter’s encouragement in his semifinal comeback against Hyun Ho Rho. Facing a three-hole deficit, Villacencio rallied to win 2-up, setting the stage for his unexpected championship run.

The victory, worth P280,000, capped a dramatic season-ending championship with Engino, who upset tournament favorite Jay Bayron in the semifinals, earning P200,000 as runnerup.

Meanwhile, in the women’s division, Florence Bisera defeated defending champion Mikha Fortuna 2&1 to clinch her second career title. Bisera leaned on her father Reynaldo, who served as her caddie and emotional anchor throughout the tournament.

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“My Papa was a big help because he helped me control my emotions,” Bisera said after the victory.

The 25-year-old from Davao capitalized on Fortuna’s sluggish start to gain an early lead, displaying precision and poise despite rain complicating the final stretch. A brilliant birdie on the 16th hole gave Bisera a crucial two-hole cushion, which she maintained to secure the title and its P280,000 prize.