STA. ROSA, Laguna – Angelo Que and Keanu Jahns stayed firmly on a marquee collision course after dispatching their respective rivals in contrasting fashions to lead a high-powered cast into the quarterfinals of the ICTSI The Country Club Match Play Invitational here on Wednesday, Nov. 26.
After slogging through a rain-soaked opening day that left the fairways softer and the greens trickier, the field faced a punishing turnaround as Day 2 unfolded under hot, blustery conditions. The shift in weather favored those with deeper experience – and steadier nerves – and Que, feeling significantly better than he had 24 hours earlier, made sure to take advantage.
The top-seeded Que endured streaky stretches before finally finding his rhythm late to oust Ryan Monsalve, 2&1, and secure a mouth-watering duel with fellow multi-titled campaigner Clyde Mondilla in Thursday’s quarterfinals.
“Feeling much better but not 100 percent yet. Getting better every day,” said Que, who had been unsure of even competing this week after withdrawing from last Friday’s final Philippine Golf Tour leg at Valley Golf due to a stomach ailment.
While his confidence grows with each round, he remained guarded, mindful of the volatility inherent in match play.
“It’s match play, so anybody has a chance,” he said, fully aware that his quarterfinal showdown with Mondilla promises to be one of the tournament’s most compelling matchups – two seasoned aces with the firepower, finesse and mental toughness to go deep.
No. 2 seed Jahns, meanwhile, leaned on his power game and near-flawless iron play to oust Jhonnel Ababa with an authoritative 4&3 victory, earning him a blockbuster duel with five-time PGT Order of Merit winner Tony Lascuña.
“Nothing special,” Jahns said of his lopsided win. “I just tried to make pars to avoid penalty shots. Basta in-play ang bola mo dito, and with decent short game you’ll play well.”
He also downplayed the margin of victory. “It wasn’t dominant. We were both making mistakes, pero I had less. Puro par-par lang. I think I made just two or three birdies in 14 holes.”
Preparing to face Lascuña, the Fil-German shotmaker said he won’t be altering his approach. “I will just go for pars. Bonus na lang pag naka-birdie ka dito. Tony always has a very good short game, so it should be a good match.”
Lascuña, who earlier crushed James Ryan Lam, 6&5, in the first round, delivered another commanding performance with a 3&2 victory over Russell Bautista.
“Medyo okay naman ang kondisyon. Hopefully magtuloy-tuloy,” said Lascuña, who knows he’ll give up considerable length to Jahns but hopes to counter with his trademark touch and savvy around the greens.
Earlier, Mondilla and Reymon Jaraula marched to the Last 8 after beating their rivals in varying fashions. Mondilla weathered a day-long challenge from rising Saranggani star Jeffren Lumbo but tapped into his experience to pull out a hard-earned 2&1 win.
Jaraula, for his part, drained three birdies – including a crucial conversion on No. 9 that gave him the lead for good – en route to a 4&3 triumph over Collin Wheeler.
“Focus at enjoy lang, at ingat sa mga holes,” Jaraula said of his game plan.
Randy Garalde, the giant-slayer who stunned No. 3 Fidel Concepcion on Day 1, stayed sharp in the wind and heat, outlasting Gabriel Manotoc, 2-up. Michael Bibat completed the Top 8 roster with a gritty 1-up escape against sixth-ranked Rupert Zaragosa in a duel that remained tight throughout.
As the other matches spilled into the closing holes, Guido van der Valk survived a roller-coaster duel against Atsushi Ueda. The Dutch ace built a three-hole lead after 10, only to see Ueda mount a furious charge with clutch putts and a chip-in on the 13th.
Van der Valk regained control by taking Nos. 15 and 16, then held off Ueda’s birdie on the 17th to seal a 2-up win on the last hole.
“I’m lucky and happy that I got through. It was a good match,” said the two-time TCC Invitational champion.
The eight survivors now brace for a grueling Thursday featuring quarterfinals in the morning followed by semifinal battles in the afternoon. And with form, pedigree and momentum converging at once, the Final 8 promises slam-bang, down-to-the-wire action worthy of the tournament’s prestige.
Quarterfinal pairings are loaded with star power: Que vs. Mondilla, van der Valk vs. Bibat, Jaraula vs. Garalde, and Lascuña vs. Jahns – matchups that could easily headline the championship stage itself.
With shifting weather, tightening matchups, and the circuit’s biggest names all colliding, Thursday’s knockout rounds are primed to deliver one of the most explosive days yet in the season-ending event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
