CAGAYAN DE ORO – Coming off back-to-back runner-up finishes, Jeffren Lumbo returns to the Philippine Golf Tour with renewed hunger in the ICTSI Pueblo de Oro Championship, which tees off Monday at the Pueblo de Oro Golf and Country Club.
But the Sarangani ace will have his work cut out for him against a talent-laden field eager to seize the spotlight in the P2.5-million championship, with recent winners Art Arbole and Jhonnel Ababa leading the charge and golf legend Frankie Miñoza adding star power and prestige to the four-day tournament.
Lumbo, whose lean frame belies his power off the tee, had two golden opportunities to claim his second career victory in the last two PGT stops. However, late-hole miscues proved costly, allowing Arbole to clinch his maiden PGT title in Negros Occidental before Ababa ended a two-year title drought with a victory in Iloilo.
Lumbo in fine form
The consecutive setbacks were particularly painful for Lumbo, who had put together four rounds of impressive golf in both tournaments only to fall short when the pressure mounted.
Yet, rather than diminish his standing, the near-misses have underscored his potential as one of the Tour’s emerging contenders – and given him added motivation to sharpen the decision-making and composure required to close it out in tight finishes.
“Hindi ko na iniisip ’yung back-to-back second place ko papunta ng Pueblo de Oro. Basta focus lang ako sa laro ko at mag-enjoy,” said Lumbo.
“Sana lang mag-click lahat para may chance na manalo,” he added.
The confidence is backed by a strong run of results. After capturing his maiden PGT crown in last year’s season-ending ICTSI South Pacific Championship in a dramatic five-hole playoff against Russell Bautista, Lumbo has continued to establish himself among the circuit’s leading contenders, posting three Top 10 finishes in the first five legs of the current season, including a runner-up effort to Lloyd Go at Pinewoods.
Miñoza, meanwhile, brings a special dimension to the tournament with his rare appearance in the PGT field. One of Philippine golf’s most celebrated figures, the veteran campaigner is expected to draw added attention to the championship while testing himself against a new generation of professionals and rising talents.
Also returning to the fold is Keanu Jahns, who is seeking to rebound from a near-miss in the DP World Tour Qualifying. He joins a strong lineup that includes former Tour standouts Clyde Mondilla, Rupert Zaragosa, Zanieboy Gialon and Guido van der Valk.
Tony Lascuña and Reymon Jaraula, meanwhile, have added motivation of their own. The pair disputed the crown when Pueblo de Oro last hosted a PGT leg in 2019, with Jaraula emerging victorious to claim another career milestone. The Del Monte native now gets another crack at the title on familiar territory, while Lascuña – the Tour’s only five-time Order of Merit winner – arrives buoyed by a confidence-building victory in a recent senior tournament.
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