NEGROS OCCIDENTAL – In a test of precision and smart play versus power, Rupert Zaragosa once again proved that pinpoint iron game and a deft putting touch can overcome sheer distance, winning the ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic here – this time in full, across 72 holes.
Zaragosa posted a final-round 66 to close out the tournament at 14-under 266, securing a two-shot triumph over long-hitting contenders Keanu Jahns, Aidric Chan and Clyde Mondilla. It was a performance that not only validated his weather-shortened win here last year but underscored his versatility, maturity and ability to thrive under pressure against three of the game’s power players.
“This one is more memorable – first, it was a four-day tournament, and it was the first time my mom and my sister Precious were there to witness me win on Tour,” said Zaragosa in Filipino. while comparing this win to his weather-shortened victory last year.
Zaragosa, who pocketed the top purse of P354,000, immediately set the tone on Friday, Sept. 12, with a crisp 12-foot birdie putt on the opening hole – one that Chan matched, but Jahns failed to convert from closer range. While both challengers mounted occasional surges, they couldn’t shake off Zaragosa, who consistently neutralized their power with clinical iron shots that left him within makable birdie range.
Even a bogey on the 18th couldn’t derail his title run as Zaragosa strode up the par-5 final hole with a commanding three-shot lead – secured by an insurance birdie on the par-3 16th.
He admitted feeling the nerves even with a three-shot lead heading to the final hole.
“I don’t know why, but I felt the most pressure when I stepped onto the 18th tee.”
When asked what the win meant to him, Zaragosa said: “I really wanted this win as I try to build confidence heading into my campaign in Japan next month.”
Despite being outhit and outdriven by his rivals, he stayed focused on his own strategy.
“I didn’t really mind it. I knew they had the advantage with their power, but I just stuck to my game plan,” said Zaragosa, emphasizing that the key was having the will to win and the confidence to execute.
After missing his approach in the rain and chipping well past the pin on the 18th, he two-putted for a 6. But the damage was minimal. His victory – his first after a six-shot win last year that drew skepticism due to the event being shortened to 36 holes – was now beyond doubt. This time, he proved he could come out on top, even under far tougher conditions.
His victory also punctured Jahns’ growing momentum, which had been fueled by consecutive four-shot wins at Caliraya Springs and Binitin.
Chan and Jahns kept the pressure on from the start but couldn’t stir Zaragosa’s calm and confidence, rooted in a third-round 64 that propelled him to the top.
Zaragosa also credited his iron play for a final-round charge that included six birdies and two bogeys – the first from a failed up-and-down on the par-3 No. 8, which came right after he drained a monster birdie putt on the seventh to gain a two-shot cushion over Jahns.
Jahns stumbled with a costly bogey on the 13th. He rebounded with a birdie on the 15th and closed with a 67, tying Chan, who shot a bogey-free 66, at 268.
In the group ahead, Mondilla pitched in an eagle on the par-4 14th and capped his round with a birdie on the 18th for a 66, joining Jahns and Chan in second place. Each earned ₱155,333.
Russell Bautista carded a 68 to finish solo fifth at 272, while Collin Wheeler rallied with a 65 to tie Nilo Salahog and Angelo Que, who carded 66 and 67, respectively, at 273.
Zanieboy Gialon also fired a 66 to earn a share of ninth place at 274 with Fidel Concepcion and Sean Ramos, who closed out with 67 and 69, respectively.
On playing at Marapara, Zaragosa said the course fit his game perfectly.
“The layout of the course really suits my game. Most of my second shots were just wedges,” he said.
Zaragosa’s approach shots were laser-sharp throughout the round, rarely missing a green in regulation and repeatedly giving himself birdie looks inside 15 feet. Just as impressively, his putting stroke held up under immense pressure, draining clutch putts when it mattered most, keeping his momentum intact.
Whether it was feathering a mid-iron to a tight pin placement or navigating slick, breaking putts on an unpredictable surface, Zaragosa displayed a control and calm that belied his modest stature – and defied the attempts of his more physically imposing rivals to rattle him.
Jahns came into the final round expected to overpower the field. And true to form, he attacked from the start, though he failed to rattle Zaragosa.
Chan, too, seemed poised for a charge, matching Zaragosa’s early birdie, while Mondilla, Bautista and Que tried to wedge their way into the mix.
But each time the field pressed, Zaragosa responded with precision. He never blinked – threading approach shots into tight landing zones, avoiding costly errors, and calmly rolling in putts that preserved his edge. While others flared or faded, Zaragosa’s steady hand and sound course management ultimately held them all at bay.
Despite his strong form, Jahns had to settle for his second runner-up finish after six legs. Bautista surged with three birdies in the first four holes to momentarily threaten, but he faltered on the back nine, while Que ignited hopes with a pitch-in eagle on the opening hole, couldn’t sustain his early spark, missing multiple birdie chances and eventually fading from contention.
Que’s early-season dominance – including two wins and a string of podium finishes – came up short this week, as the spotlight shifted firmly to Zaragosa.
But this wasn’t just a title defense – it was a statement. And Zaragosa didn’t just hang on to beat the field. He outplayed, out-putted and outlasted a lineup stacked with power hitters, proving once again that precision and poise can win the day even in an era where distance dominates headlines.
