BACOLOD – Keanu Jahns took the best shots thrown by the country’s elite, rising stars and foreign challengers – and walked away stronger, more composed and victorious.
Delivering a powerful statement of intent, Jahns closed out with four birdies in the last six holes on his way to a third straight five-under 65 and captured the ICTSI Bacolod Golf Challenge crown that further cemented his status as the brightest emerging talent on the Philippine Golf Tour.
His second win in as many events on a 262 total was worth ₱356,000 for the 29-year-old Fil-German in a fitting follow-up to hisvictory at Caliraya Springs last month.
His clutch back-to-back birdies from No. 13 effectively quelled any hopes of a late rally from his closest challengers, particularly Fidel Concepcion.
But Jahns wasn’t done. He capped off his round with birdies on the final two holes – a tap-in on the 17th and a monster putt from 32 feet on the last – to finish four strokes clear of Concepcion, who carded a 67 to place second at 266 – the same winning margin Jahns posted in his dominant triumph over three-time Asian Tour champion Angelo Que at Caliraya Springs.
Concepcion pocketed P233,000.
But this one demanded grit and resilience. Jahns weathered an early storm from Concepcion, who briefly pulled within one stroke after consecutive birdies from No. 4.
Que, chasing a seven-shot comeback similar to Pauline del Rosario’s heroic rally from six strokes down to snatch the Ladies PGT title from Seo Yun Kim the previous day, ultimately fell short.
Despite going six-under over the first 11 holes, Que missed birdie opportunities on the closing stretch, settling for a 64 and solo third at 268.
Aidric Chan bounced back from a shaky frontside 36 with four birdies over the last eight holes, finishing with a 67 for solo fourth at 269 while Korean Tae Won Ha bogeyed the last hole for a 69, slipping to joint fifth at 270 with Tony Lascuña and last year’s champion Reymon Jaraula, who shot 65 and 67, respectively.
Lascuña had vaulted back into contention with a five-under card through 13 holes but saw his rally lose steam after a costly bogey on the 14th.
Korean Tae Soo Kim saved his best for last, firing a tournament-best 63 – a bogey-free round highlighted by a pitch-in eagle on the par-4 No. 6 and five birdies. He finished at 271, tied for eighth with Carl Corpus and Russell Bautista, who turned in 66 and 68, respectively.
With the win, Jahns matched Que’s sweep of the first two legs of this year’s PGT at Pradera Verde and Eagle Ridge – a feat that now makes him the marked player heading into the sixth leg of the Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.-organized circuit, set to fire off Tuesday (Sept. 9) at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club in Marapara.
Dino Villanueva, meanwhile, capped off his campaign in spectacular fashion – scoring a hole-in-one on the 184-yard 18th hole. Though he was too far back to contend, he closed with a 73 to finish tied for 24th at 281.
He used a Mizuno 6-iron and a Trust Premium No. 1 ball to record his ninth career ace, and his second in competition. He received P20,000 from the organizing Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and P10,000 from Bacolod Golf and Country Club plus gift certificate,
