CAVINTI, Laguna. – Clyde Mondilla skillfully turned Keanu Jahns’ misfortune on No. 18 into a lead-grabbing opportunity, capitalizing on a two-shot swing to pull ahead with a 67 in the pivotal third round of the ICTSI Caliraya Springs Championship here Thursday.
The dramatic shift ensued as Jahns, a stroke ahead of Mondilla after 17 holes of a thrilling shootout in blustery conditions, faced an unlucky break, his drive on the closing par-4 hole landing in a divot, leading to a challenging finish and a double bogey for a 68.
“I was unlucky and couldn’t do so much. With a hazard lying ahead, falling short wasn’t an option,” said Jahns of his last-hole challenge. He ended up overshooting the green, resulting in a difficult position and a 6.
This unfortunate turn propelled Mondilla, who holed out with a regulation par, to the lead at eight-under 208, narrowly edging out the Fil-German, who remained a strong contender for the title with a 209.
The day underscored both players’ exceptional prowess that separated them from the rest of the bidders in the P2.5 million championship put up by ICTSI, setting the stage for an electrifying showdown for the top P450,000 purse in Friday’s final round.
Mondilla, out to redeem himself from a rare missed cut stint at Palos Verdes last month following a tie for 25th finish at Apo, recognized the threat posed by Jahns, stressing the need for a solid performance in the concluding 18 holes.
“Keanu is a formidable player, so I need to step up my game tomorrow (Friday) to secure victory,” said Mondilla, highlighting the comprehensive skill set required to conquer the Caliraya Springs Golf Club.
Jahns, still in pursuit of his first Philippine Golf Tour victory, remained optimistic, emphasizing the importance of precision in driving, iron play and putting to create birdie opportunities.
Jahns, runner-up to Tony Lascuña in the 2022 Match Play Championship at Villamor, also acknowledged the course’s challenges in distance control.
“It’s hard to control your distances here even if you’re in the middle of the fairway,” said Jahns, who tied for fifth at Palos Verdes following a share of 11th place at Apo.
The duo’s duel left them ahead of the competition, including the likes of halfway joint leaders Aidric Chan and Tae Soo Kim, alongside Eric Gallardo and last year’s winner Lascuña, who trailed by five strokes with 213s.
