NEGROS OCCIDENTAL. — In a tense and weather-challenged finish, Rupert Zaragosa held steady through pouring rain to take a one-shot lead over Keanu Jahns in a thrilling third round of the ICTSI Negros Occidental Challenge here on Thursday.
Known more for precision than power, Zaragosa proved once again that golf isn’t a long drive contest – it’s about precision and poise under pressure. The diminutive ace rose above a pair of the Philippine Golf Tour’s biggest hitters –Jahns and Clyde Mondilla – to wrest control at 10-under 200 with a 64 at the Marapara course.
The final group endured a 40-minute weather delay after a heavy downpour struck just after their second shots on the par-5 18th. With soaked fairways and an unpredictable green, conditions were far from ideal when play resumed. But Zaragosa remained composed under pressure, closing with a tap-in par to cap a bogey-free six-under and seize the lead.
Zaragosa nearly rolled in a long birdie putt that hit the pin before settling inches from the hole, setting up the easy par and clinching the solo lead. In contrast, Jahns, who came in with back-to-back wins at Caliraya Springs and Binitin, stumbled after misjudging his third shot, sailing past the green.
His chip came up short of the intended landing area and he needed two putts to finish, resulting in a closing bogey and an otherwise stellar 66. He slipped to solo second at 201.
Mondilla made a late push with birdies on Nos. 15 and 17 before settling for a routine par on the last hole for a 67, slipping to joint third with Aidric Chan at 202. Chan also mounted a charge with a 64 to keep his breakthrough bid alive in the P2 million championship organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
“Mas consistent ang putting ko ngayon compared sa first two days, maganda ang feel ko at basa sa green,” said Zaragosa. “Sobrang happy at maganda ang laro ko ngayon.”
He shared that the slight weather shift toward the end of the round didn’t bother them much.
“Patapos na din naman kami, kaya hindi masyadong nakaapekto,” he said.
However, the defending champion admitted he’s feeling the pressure to retain the title he won in abbreviated fashion last year.
“May pressure din to defend. I will draw up my game plan later kung ano dapat gawin bukas. Hopefully mas gumanda ang laro,” he added.
Meanwhile, Jahns took a costly miscue in stride after his final-hole slip.
“I took a relief from a casual water lie. But for some reason, my 8-iron from 160 yards flew 20 yards past the green. It happens, but I’m not too upset about it,” said Jahns.
“The weather hardly affected my game – I was just unlucky,” he added.
Like Zaragosa, the Tour’s hottest player believes the outcome will be decided on the greens and who putts better on the final day.
“I’ll just play steady and hopefully, the putter stays hot again,” said Jahns.
On a Marapara layout that favors power in sweltering heat in morning play, Zaragosa’s game plan stood in stark contrast to that of the long hitters. Jahns and Mondilla repeatedly blasted tee shots deep down fairways, often leaving wedges into greens. Zaragosa, seemingly unfazed, stuck to his blueprint – fairways, greens and makeable putts.
The turning point came on the par-4 ninth, where Zaragosa, outdriven by 80 yards, played a precise 56-degree wedge shot from 96 yards to within six feet and drained the putt for birdie. Jahns had driven to the left of the green, 50 yards out, but overshot the target and settled for par. Mondilla, also near the green off the mound, missed a 10-footer for birdie.
It was the perfect encapsulation of Zaragosa’s brilliance – staying within himself, not forcing shots, and relying on a superb iron game honed over years of disciplined play. While others were overpowering the course, he was dissecting it.
Zaragosa’s round was a masterclass in course management. He birdied Nos. 2, 5, and 6 early, then matched Jahns with a birdie on the 10th. Unrelenting, he birdied the par-4 No. 15 for the third straight day and closed out with a flourish to take a one-stroke lead heading into the final round.
Jahns and Mondilla both had stretches of brilliance. Jahns surged with three straight birdies from No. 4, briefly grabbing the solo lead at eight-under, while Mondilla had a fiery start with birdies on the first two holes. But both faltered late, allowing the ever-steady Zaragosa to sneak ahead.
It was a moving day for several contenders, including Chan, who made a strong push for his maiden PGT title with a spectacular run of four consecutive birdies starting at No. 4. He rebounded from a birdie-bogey swing from No. 10 with two more birdies over the final six holes, including a dramatic bending 20-footer on the 18th. He climbed into a tie for third alongside Mondilla.
Russell Bautista also made his move with a bogey-free 65, moving up to solo fifth at 204. Sean Ramos was on pace for a 64 but stumbled with bogeys on Nos. 16 and 17, settling for a 66 to fall into a share of sixth at 205 with Japan’s Atsushi Ueda, who turned in a 68.
Angelo Que, winner of the season’s first two legs at Pradera Verde and Eagle Ridge, stayed in the hunt with a 67, bringing his total to 206, while Elee Bisera fired a strong 65 to join Fidel Concepcion (67), Francis Morilla (68), Justin Quiban (70), and Nilo Salahog (71) in a five-way tie for ninth at 207.
