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, Jahns captured the ICTSI Bacolod Golf Challenge crown by four shots after a third straight five-under 65 and bolstered bolster his status as the brightest emerging talent on the Philippine Golf Tour.
Coming off a victory at Caliraya Springs last month, 29-year-old Fil-German navigated a pressure-packed final round with clinical precision, closing out with four birdies in the last six holes to finish on a 262 total at Binitin.
READ Keanu Jahns shoots 64 to beat Que by four at Caliraya Springs
His clutch back-to-back birdies from No. 13 effectively quelled any hopes of a late rally from his closest challengers, particularly Fidel Concepcion. He finished with birdies on the final two holes – a tap-in on the 17th and a monster putt from 32 feet on the last.
Concepcion 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.
Jahns won ₱356,000 while Concepcion pocketed P233,000.
Playing two flights ahead, Que and Tony Lascuña lit up the course in a fiery shootout. Que surged to six-under after 11 holes, including a pitch-in eagle on the par-4 second, cutting Jahns’ lead to just two shots at 12-under.
But Jahns never blinked.
“I stayed very patient – I struggled on the front nine, made just one birdie and had to grind out a lot of up-and-downs for par,” said Jahns, reflecting on a tense start that allowed several others to close the gap.
“But I was fortunate to make a few birdies coming in,” he added.
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 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.
“I just trusted my short game,” said Jahns. “Distance control is really tough on this course. Even when I missed greens, I stayed confident around the edges.”
For Jahns, it was about staying grounded.
“One shot at a time. Whatever the day gives, I take it.”
Coming off his breakthrough win at Forest Hills last year – after a decade-long wait – Jahns called this latest triumph his toughest yet.
“Definitely the hardest,” he said. “This course is so unpredictable – you just can’t afford any mistakes.”
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,
Bobe Salahog, on the other hand, took the low amateur honors with a 71 and 275 for an impressive joint 12th finish.
Jahns’ victory thus matched Que’s sweep of the first two legs of this year’s PGT at Pradera Verde and Eagle Ridge, which also makes him the marked player when the Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.-organized circuit moves to the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club in Marapara for the sixth leg beginning Tuesday (Sept. 9.)
Jahns’ back-to-back victories, built on equal parts skill, patience and confidence, underscore his fast-rising status as the most dominant player on the Tour behind only Que in legacy and stature. From holding off decorated veterans to outplaying the best of the Tour’s youth and foreign contenders, he’s showing he’s not just a future star – he’s already here.
Still, he welcomes the challenge.
“I’m very lucky to win again. Hopefully, I can do it again in the future,” said Jahns. “With how I’m playing now, I feel confident. But I’ll keep taking it one shot at a time.”
And one win at a time – until luck no longer needs to be part of the equation.
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