By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Reymon Jaraula stormed past his rivals with a brilliant display of skill and composure, and fended off Angelo Que’s late surge to secure a one-stroke victory with a closing-round 68 in the ICTSI Bacolod Golf Challenge.

Jaraula’s final-hole conquest unfolded on the 180-yard par-3 18th, where a pulled tee shot into the wind landed him 40 yards left of the green, sparking a potential playoff with Que, who spiked his scorching 64 with closing back-to-back birdies.

However, the Bukidnon native showed poise, producing a masterful chip shot that sent the ball bouncing through the green, rolling past four feet of the hole.

After carefully studying the line from all angles, he confidently claimed his narrow one-shot victory over Que and claimed his third Philippine Golf Tour title.

“I never doubted I could save that par. My caddie told me it was the perfect spot to make a chip shot,” said Jaraula, who secured the victory with a 16-under 264 total, earning him P440,000.

Que, starting the day five shots back, birdied four of the last six holes to finish with a 64 and 15-under 265 total worth P287,500.

Two flights behind the leader, Que’s rally forced Jaraula to dig deep, as any slip on the final hole could have led to a playoff.

But Jaraula remained unfazed, stringing together pars from the 12th through the 17th to keep his lead intact.

Even when his punched 7-iron tee shot on No. 18 veered left, opening the door for Que, the 32-year-old displayed nerves of steel, calmly executing the chip and draining the decisive putt.

His composure was further tested when other competitors, Ho Rho and Jhonnel Ababa, positioned themselves for potential birdies on the 18th.

But Jaraula kept her poise.

Rho birdied the last hole and finished with a 66 to claim solo third at 266 (P160,000).

“There was pressure on the back nine, especially after Que finished strong with two birdies. But I kept telling myself to just par the remaining holes, and that’s exactly what I did,” Jaraula said./ASC, WDJ