Reymon Jaraula hikes Pueblo lead with 69

CAGAYAN de Oro, Philippines — Reymon Jaraula snagged a third-round spell that ruined his title bid the last time out, bucking a backside slip with a birdie binge then matching Jay Bayron’s closing pars to take a step closer to a dream title run with a 69 in the third round of the P2.5 million ICTSI Pueblo de Oro Championship here yesterday.

Now come the toughest part.

Jaraula will not only have to contend with Bayron and a surging Tony Lascuña in the final group today but also a host of others who chipped away some strokes with superb rounds that put them back in the hunt for the top P450,000 purse in this first of four tournaments making up the Mindanao swing of the 10th season of the Philippine Golf Tour.

But the 27-year-old Del Monte find said he’s ready to take up the challenge even from the least fancied players in the fold.

“Ready naman ako lagi, especially now,” said Jaraula, who padded his lead to three with a 34 start, faltered with a double-bogey on the par-3 No. 11 when his tee shot landed into the water hazard but struck back with three birdies in the next four to move 18 holes away from ending a long search for a maiden win since breaking into the pro ranks in 2013.

“I’ll just play my game and won’t pressure myself,” said Jaraula after edging the veteran Bayron for the second straight day behind three birdies in a four-hole stretch after his mishap on the 11th.

He missed a couple of birdie chances in the last three holes but got a break as Bayron likewise muffed his, keeping the rising Del Monte star on track of a dream victory with a 15-under 201 aggregate.

Bayron fell by three with a frontside 36 but moved within one after Jaraula’s double-bogey then overcame a bogey on No. 12 with three straight birdies from No. 13 to scramble for a 70 and a 203.

“It can still be done. But I have to play it good and smart tomorrow (today),” said Bayron, out to make up for his missed cut at Wack Wack where he reigned in 2016.

But if there’s one player Jaraula and Bayron should watch out for in this sixth leg of the 10th season of the Philippine Golf Tour, it’s Lascuña.