BUKIDNON – If Reymon Jaraula had considered settling the matter in the most decisive way, he made little effort to conceal it on Friday.
On a course he’s very familiar with, the homegrown ace delivered a course record-shattering nine-under 63 in the final round to blow the field away in a nine-stroke victory in the ICTSI Del Monte Championship at Del Monte Golf Club.
From the moment he birdied the first two holes, it was clear Jaraula wasn’t just out to win – he was out to make a statement. What followed was a relentless display of precision and confidence as he distanced himself from the field, particularly Rupert Zaragosa, on the way to a 23-under 265 total – one of the lowest in Philippine Golf Tour history.
Eagle at the last
The exclamation point came on the par-5 18th, where Jaraula capped his record-setting, bogey-free round with an eagle, cementing both the victory and his place in Del Monte lore. His 63 shattered the previous course record of 64, held by Clyde Mondilla since 2023 – the same year Mondilla edged Jaraula by one for the crown.
“Hindi ko in-expect na ganito ka-convincing,” said Jaraula, who was near-flawless from tee to green. “Everything clicked – driving, second shots and putting. And malaking tulong talaga na familiar ako sa course. Alam ko kung saan ilalagay ang bola.”
Jaraula hit all 14 fairways, found 16 greens in regulation, and needed just 28 putts. With the home crowd cheering him on, he turned the final day into a coronation, birdieing Nos. 14, 15 and 17 before that dramatic eagle finish.
Zaragosa, who led midway through the tournament, simply couldn’t keep up. He finished with a second straight 71 and a distant runner-up at 274, while Japan’s Atsushi Ueda carded a 68 to place third at 275 – his best career finish on the Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.-organized circuit.
Russell Bautista (69) secured solo fourth at 276, while Arnold Villacencio (67), Mondilla (69), and Korean Jaehyun Jung (69) tied for fifth at 278. Tony Lascuña, who started the day in solo third, stumbled with a 73 to join Collin Wheeler (68) and Keanu Jahns (72) at joint eighth on 279.
But the day – and the tournament – belonged entirely to Jaraula.
The 33-year-old Bukidnon native, who trains at both Del Monte and Pueblo de Oro, not only claimed his fourth career title but also erased the stigma of his 2023 runner-up finish. And doing it on his home course, in front of an appreciative local crowd, made it all the more meaningful.
“Masarap manalo kung saan ka nagsimula,” he said. “Ito na siguro ang best win ko.”
After seizing a one-shot lead over Zaragosa in Thursday’s Moving Day, Jaraula knew he had to strike early. He birdied three of his first six holes, extending his lead to four by the turn. A birdie on the par-5 No. 9 stretched the gap further, effectively putting the result beyond doubt.
“I told myself I couldn’t be reckless,” he said, recalling how Mondilla chased him down two years ago. “Even with the lead, I had to stay focused.”
For his efforts, Jaraula pocketed P623,000 from the P3.5 million purse and regained his confidence heading into the next two PGT legs in Davao.
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