Philstar.com
September 12, 2025 | 2:22pm
NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines – In a check of precision and sensible play versus energy, Rupert Zaragosa as soon as once more proved that pinpoint iron sport and a deft placing contact can overcome sheer distance, successful the ICTSI Negros Occidental Traditional right here – this time in full, throughout 72 holes.
Zaragosa posted a final-round 66 to shut out the match at 14-under 266, securing a two-shot conquer long-hitting contenders Keanu Jahns, Aidric Chan and Clyde Mondilla. It was a efficiency that not solely validated his weather-shortened win right here final 12 months however underscored his versatility, maturity, and talent to thrive underneath stress towards three of the sport’s energy gamers.
“This one is extra memorable – first, it was a four-day match, and it was the primary time my mother and my sister Valuable have been there to witness me win on Tour,” mentioned Zaragosa in Filipino. whereas evaluating this win to his weather-shortened victory final 12 months.
Zaragosa, who pocketed the highest purse of P354,000, instantly set the tone on Friday with a crisp 12-foot birdie putt on the opening gap – one which Chan matched, however Jahns did not convert from nearer vary. Whereas each challengers mounted occasional surges, they couldn’t shake off Zaragosa, who constantly neutralized their energy with scientific iron photographs that left him inside makable birdie vary.
Even a bogey on the 18th couldn’t derail his title run as Zaragosa strode up the par-5 closing gap with a commanding three-shot lead – secured by an insurance coverage birdie on the par-3 sixteenth.
He admitted feeling the nerves even with a three-shot lead heading to the ultimate gap.
“I don’t know why, however I felt essentially the most stress after I stepped onto the 18th tee.”
When requested what the win meant to him, Zaragosa mentioned: “I actually wished this win as I attempt to construct confidence heading into my marketing campaign in Japan subsequent month.”
Regardless of being outhit and outdriven by his rivals, he stayed targeted on his personal technique.
“I didn’t actually thoughts it. I knew that they had the benefit with their energy, however I simply caught to my sport plan,” mentioned Zaragosa, emphasizing that the important thing was having the need to win and the boldness to execute.
After lacking his strategy within the rain and chipping nicely previous the pin on the 18th, he two-putted for a 6. However the injury was minimal. His victory – his first after a six-shot win final 12 months that drew skepticism as a result of occasion being shortened to 36 holes – was now past doubt. This time, he proved he might come out on high, even underneath far more durable circumstances.
His victory additionally punctured Jahns’ rising momentum, which had been fueled by consecutive four-shot wins at Caliraya Springs and Binitin.
Chan and Jahns stored the stress on from the beginning however couldn’t stir Zaragosa’s calm and confidence, rooted in a third-round 64 that propelled him to the highest.
Zaragosa additionally credited his iron play for a final-round cost that included six birdies and two bogeys – the primary from a failed up-and-down on the par-3 No. 8, which got here proper after he drained a monster birdie putt on the seventh to achieve a two-shot cushion over Jahns.
Jahns stumbled with a pricey bogey on the thirteenth. He rebounded with a birdie on the fifteenth and closed with a 67, tying Chan, who shot a bogey-free 66, at 268.
Within the group forward, Mondilla pitched in an eagle on the par-4 14th and capped his spherical with a birdie on the 18th for a 66, becoming a member of Jahns and Chan in second place. Every earned P155,333.
Russell Bautista carded a 68 to complete solo fifth at 272, whereas Collin Wheeler rallied with a 65 to tie Nilo Salahog and Angelo Que, who carded 66 and 67, respectively, at 273.
Zanieboy Gialon additionally fired a 66 to earn a share of ninth place at 274 with Fidel Concepcion and Sean Ramos, who closed out with 67 and 69, respectively.
On enjoying at Marapara, Zaragosa mentioned the course match his sport completely.
“The format of the course actually fits my sport. Most of my second photographs have been simply wedges,” he mentioned.
Zaragosa’s strategy photographs have been laser-sharp all through the spherical, hardly ever lacking a inexperienced in regulation and repeatedly giving himself birdie appears inside 15 toes. Simply as impressively, his placing stroke held up underneath immense stress, draining clutch putts when it mattered most, retaining his momentum intact.
Whether or not it was feathering a mid-iron to a good pin placement or navigating slick, breaking putts on an unpredictable floor, Zaragosa displayed a management and calm that belied his modest stature – and defied the makes an attempt of his extra bodily imposing rivals to rattle him.
Jahns got here into the ultimate spherical anticipated to overpower the sector. And true to type, he attacked from the beginning, although he did not rattle Zaragosa.
Chan, too, appeared poised for a cost, matching Zaragosa’s early birdie, whereas Mondilla, Bautista and Que tried to wedge their manner into the combination.
However every time the sector pressed, Zaragosa responded with precision. He by no means blinked – threading strategy photographs into tight touchdown zones, avoiding pricey errors, and calmly rolling in putts that preserved his edge. Whereas others flared or pale, Zaragosa’s regular hand and sound course administration finally held all of them at bay.
Regardless of his sturdy type, Jahns needed to accept his second runner-up end after six legs. Bautista surged with three birdies within the first 4 holes to momentarily threaten, however he faltered on the again 9, whereas Que ignited hopes with a pitch-in eagle on the opening gap, could not maintain his early spark, lacking a number of birdie possibilities and finally fading from rivalry.
Que’s early-season dominance – together with two wins and a string of podium finishes – got here up quick this week, because the highlight shifted firmly to Zaragosa.
However this wasn’t only a title protection – it was an announcement. And Zaragosa didn’t simply cling on to beat the sector. He outplayed, out-putted and outlasted a lineup stacked with energy hitters, proving as soon as once more that precision and poise can win the day even in an period the place distance dominates headlines.