Jaraula seeks second straight win at home

MANILA, Philippines — Reymon Jaraula heads to the ICTSI Del Monte Championship this week armed with an ego-boosting breakthrough win at Pueblo de Oro last weekend and the psychological advantage of playing on a course he calls home.

“This win is really a big morale boost as we head to Del Monte next week,” said Jaraula, referring to the mountain-top course where he honed his talent and skills before making Pueblo de Oro his next home, where he polished his game to become the latest star to emerge from talent-rich province.

Six years since he broke into the pro ranks with a third place finish at Palos Verdes and the rest spent chasing for recognition, Jaraula found himself a marked man in the P2.5 million event unfolding tomorrow in Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon after finally putting it all together at Pueblo and proving his worth against one of the country’s most revered, winningest players.

“I feel good and I believe I can win at Del Monte where I used to train,” said Jaraula, who pulled off a couple of brilliant putts to stun Tony Lascuña in the second sudden death hole last Saturday. “But Del Monte is a bit tougher than Pueblo since there are tricky holes, including the tight par-4 No. 17.”

He added that a 14-under total at the mountaintop course could net one the crown in the 72-hole championship serving as the seventh leg of the 10th season of the ICTSI-sponsored Philippine Golf Tour and second of four tournaments making up the Mindanao swing.

“But there are a lot of good players so I really have to work hard to win again,” added the 27-year-old Jaraula, referring to, among them, his fellow Del Monte players, led by Noel Langamin, who anchored the team’s PAL Interclub romp in 2011, along with Magno Arancon and Leonard Lofranco and the Miñoza brothers Paul and Peter along with reigning Philippine Open champion Clyde Mondilla.

Lascuña, for one, is going all-out to nail the win that has eluded him the last two years, his runner-up effort at Pueblo hinting of a successful campaign this week following a number of top five finishes and a couple of third place efforts in his last few events in the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

A host of others are also due for a big finish, including Ira Alido, who placed fifth at Aboitiz Invitational and joint third at Pueblo, Jhonnel Ababa, Michael Bibat, Zanieboy Gialon, Joenard Rates, Elmer Salvador, Rupert Zaragosa and Jay Bayron.