NEGROS OCCIDENTAL – Clyde Mondilla delivered a blistering backside windup to fire a 65 on Wednesday, then watched Keanu Jahns stumble at the front in a separate flight to force a share of the lead halfway through the ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic fast shaping up for a nail-biting finish at the treacherous par-70 Marapara course here.
With 36 holes left before the P2 million championship crowns its winner on Friday, a fierce and wide-open battle is brewing. Only three shots separate the top 11 players, and at least 16 remain within realistic striking distance – a razor-thin margin that promises fireworks in Thursday’s pivotal third round.
With the Marapara layout firming up under the relentless sun, the big-hitting Jahns put on a show of power and precision, his sheer distance giving him ideal setups for approach shots – an edge few can match.
He appeared poised to pull away early and cruise to a third straight Philippine Golf Tour crown after a superb backside 32 vaulted him to a two-shot cushion. But the long-hitting ace faltered on the same front nine he mastered in the opening round, bogeying Nos. 3 and 6 to settle for a 68.
That opened the door for Mondilla, three groups ahead, who took full advantage with a birdie-birdie start and a red-hot closing stretch featuring birdies on 12, 13 and 18. His five-under round propelled him to 135, matching Jahns atop the leaderboard.
Yet both leaders know they can’t afford to rest easy.
Just one shot back at 136 are multi-titled Jhonnel Ababa, who carded a 67, Nilo Salahog, who carded a 69, Collin Wheeler, who put in a 69, and defending champion Rupert Zaragosa, who endureda wild mid-round stretch to shoot a 67 powered by four consecutive birdies from No. 2.
Justin Quiban and Atsushi Ueda shot 69 and 70, respectively, for matching 137s, while the 138 group includes pressure-tested names like Rico Depilo (66), Aidric Chan (67) and Reymon Jaraula (71) – each known for their ability to deliver clutch performances under pressure – setting a gripping showdown for control and position.
With the likes of Russell Bautista (69), Francis Morilla (70), Sean Ramos (70) and Angelo Que (71), and a handful of others lurking, Round 3 promises to be a battle royale.
Dino Villanueva, who opened with a sizzling 65 to wrest early control, plummeted down the leaderboard with a birdie-less 74 as he fell into joint 12th with one-under total, still within striking distance.
Despite his late-round slip, Jahns remained confident and composed, showing the poise of a player who’s recently dominated with back-to-back four-shot wins at Caliraya Springs and Bacolod.
“Fairways are rolling a lot more, so I took advantage hitting those shots,” said Jahns, who relied on his power game for shorter approaches but admitted to struggling on the front side. “My driving is okay, medyo nag-struggle lang sa second nine, but okay naman ang score at the end of the round.”
Birdies on Nos. 12, 15 and 16 helped erase a two-stroke deficit, but his missed birdie chances inside six feet left room for improvement. Still, he’s optimistic: “I’m confident, and I’m good. I just need to stick to my game plan. The scores are very unpredictable – just like last week in Binitin – so if I’d be able to keep my emotions in check, I will be okay.”
Mondilla, meanwhile, returned from a short competitive break looking sharp and renewed. After skipping the Forest Hills and Caliraya Springs legs and finishing tied at 28th in Binitin, the former Philippine Open champion seems to have regained his rhythm.
“Kampante ako sa pwesto ko, at least nakuha na uli ang momentum (I’m confident with my position – at least I’ve regained my momentum),” said Mondilla. “I hit all the fairways, may konting mali, pero nare-recover ko naman for par. Nakuha ko na uli ang feel ng greens, mas naka-putt ako ng maayos (I made a few mistakes, but I was able to recover for par. I’ve gotten the feel of the greens back and was able to putt much better).”
As the Marapara layout bakes under the scorching sun – and the wind beginning to pick up on certain holes – scoring has become more challenging, requiring precise tee shots and accurate putting. As Mondilla put it: “Mahirap ang Marapara, pero ang key talaga dito ay tee shot at putting (Marapara is tough, but the real key here is your tee shot and putting).”
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