DAVAO CITY — Following a thrilling sequence of razor-thin victories and dramatic finishes, the Philippine Golf Tour returns for another high-stakes showdown as the ₱2.5-million ICTSI South Pacific Classic opens on Tuesday, October 20, at the South Pacific Golf and Leisure Estates.
The upcoming four-day battle for supremacy follows Rupert Zaragosa’s narrow triumph at the Pueblo de Oro Championship last week. Zaragosa secured his fourth career title and snapped a year-long dry spell after edging Keanu Jahns and Zanieboy Gialon by a single stroke, finishing with a final-round 68.
Reflecting on his breakthrough performance, Zaragosa shared his mindset heading into the championship.
“I actually had a feeling I could win at Pueblo because everything felt right. My game was in good shape, I was hitting the ball well, and my putting was coming together. I felt I had a real chance,” he said.
The current circuit has been defined by extreme parity and fierce competition. Recent legs saw Angelo Que triumph over Aidric Chan by two strokes at Summit Point, Art Arbole claim a maiden victory in Negros Occidental over Jeffren Lumbo, and Jhonnel Ababa secure a one-shot win against Lumbo in Iloilo.
Lumbo returns to the links with unfinished business after posting consecutive runner-up finishes. As the defending champion who outlasted Russell Bautista in a grueling five-hole playoff last year, Lumbo aims for a successful title defense on familiar terrain.
Meanwhile, Bautista is motivated to redeem himself following last year’s playoff heartbreak and a late stumble during the previous leg.
Other top contenders eager to settle scores include Jahns and Gialon, both of whom fell just one stroke short of forcing a playoff at Pueblo de Oro. Power-hitter Clyde Mondilla, who led after three rounds last week before settling for fourth, is also expected to sharpen his approach game for the Davao course.
Que, meanwhile, looks to regain the dominant form that earned him his second leg victory of the season at Summit Point. With the prestigious Order of Merit title on the line, the veteran campaigner is positioning himself for a strong late-season surge.
Organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., the South Pacific Classic marks the penultimate leg of the 10-stop circuit. The tour will conclude next week at the Apo Golf and Country Club, where local standouts led by Ababa will close out the season.