Jaraula upstages Bayron, wrests Pueblo lead

CAGAYAN de Oro, Philippines – Driven by desire to do better after a foldup last week, Reymon Jaraula extended his impressive run of under-par cards to two with another 66, putting himself back on a place as he was at Wack Wack after 36 holes of the P2.5 million ICTSI Pueblo de Oro Championship.

But this time, he vowed to go all the way.

“I feel I can go all the way. I’ve been hitting it pretty well and playing without pressure at all,” said Jaraula after outdueling fancied Jay Bayron in their hunt for birdies that came like rain again yesterday on the up-and-down layout he calls home.

As erstwhile leader Guido Van der Valk finished with flourish at the front to save a 70 in one of the late flights, Jaraula and Bayron slugged it out shot-for-shot and putt-for-putt for the second straight day with the rising Del Monte star coming out a bit better with another pair of 33s to stay unscathed for two days and go one-up on the veteran Davaoeño shotmaker with a 12-under 132 total.

What made Jaraula’s round impressive was he gunned down those six birdies on entirely different set of holes on Nos. 1, 4, 7, 13, 15 and 16. He birdied Nos. 2, 3, 8, 11, 12 and 17 in the first round.

Bayron, who hit two eagles to match Jaraula’s first 66, also shot six birdies but bogeyed the tough par-4 No. 15 for the second straight day to settle for a 67, remain at second at 133 and on track at redemption after missing the cut at Aboitz Invitational.

“Magaling talaga (He’s really good),” said Bayron of the 27-year-old Jaraula, whom he’ll play with for the third straight today and possibly up to the final round of the P2.5 million tournament sponsored by ICTSI fast shaping up to be a two-man affair.

Make it three as Van der Valk, who took command in the first round with a 65, rebounded strong from a triple-bogey mishap on the par-4 11th where he hit the green but the ball bounced and rolled into the bunker and into the hazard. He made two birdies against a bogey for a backside 38 start but racked up four birdies at the front to salvage a 70 and a 135.

“I was a bit unlucky (on No. 11) and didn’t deserve a 7. But I was able to finish strong,” said Van der Valk, back in the hunt for a second crown in the 10th season of the Philippine Golf Tour.