Reymon Jaraula makes dreams come true at Pueblo

CAGAYAN DE ORO, Philippines — Reymon Jaraula finally grabbed a Philippine Golf Tour crown he had been chasing since he broke into the ranks as a scrawny upstart at Palos Verdes six years ago, beating multi-titled Tony Lascuña in the second playoff hole to snare the ICTSI Pueblo de Oro Championship crown before a cheering crowd here yesterday.

On a course that provided all the ingredients to a thrilling, suspense-filled ending marked by a shift in fortunes, Lascuña appeared all set to snapping a long title spell with a victory on the first playoff hole until Jaraula drilled in an improbable par-saving putt from 26 feet to force extension in the P2.5 million sixth leg of the 10th season of the Philippine Golf Tour.

On their third trip to the 418-yard No. 18 in the day, both hit their approach shots in almost the same distance, some two pins atop the hole with Lascuña putting first that came inches short. Gaining a good read from that Lascuña flubbed bid, Jaraula deftly stroked the putt that gathered steam on its downward slope before disappearing into the cup, sparking a wild celebration from a gallery that had backed up the Del Monte find who calls Pueblo de Oro his home.

“I just couldn’t believe that I finally won,” said Jaraula, who kept on trying to put it all together in a fruitless chase for a maiden crown since he broke into the pro ranks in 2013.

He used as motivation his meltdown at Aboitiz Invitational at Wack Wack last week which he led after 36 holes but wound up joint eighth with a disastrous 76-77 in the last two rounds to finally nail the elusive win.