Jahns finishes off Binitin field, wins back-to-back titles for the first time
BACOLOD—Keanu Jahns didn’t give the chasing pack in the ICTSI Bacolod Golf Challenge a chance on Friday as he closed out with a flawless five-under-par 65 that sealed his first winning streak in the circuit and opened the chance for a hat-trick starting next week.
Starting the day ahead by two shots over Fidel Concepcion, the 29-year-old Filipino-German made it a three-shot lead after the second hole and then finished everyone off with four birdies in his last six for a 72-hole 262 total and a four-shot win over the game Concepcion.
“I stayed very patient and had to grind out a lot of up-and-downs for par,” said Jahns, reflecting on a tense start. “But I was fortunate to make a few birdies coming in.”
Concepcion submitted a 67 and booked the best finish of his young pro career, as Angelo Que rallied with a 64 to check in another two shots back and sustain a hot streak in the first five legs of the circuit that now has him and Jahns winning two titles each.
They break that tie next week when the circuit goes to nearby Marapara for the Negros Occidental Golf championship where an entirely different challenge awaits over a layout that has stood as one of the toughest tests in the land.
Aidric Chan fired a 67 to finish seven shots behind Jahns, with Taewon Ha, the South Korean who shared the first round lead with Michael Bibat, closing out with a second straoght 69 to lead two others, including Antonio Lascuña, who shot a 65, in a tie fir fifth at 270.
Reymon Jaraula, who triumphed here last year, was in that group with Lascuña after shooting a 67.
One of the longest hitters on tour, Jahns turned to a less-ballyhooed aspect of his game to claim victory, he said.
“I just trusted my short game,” said Jahns. “Distance control is really tough on this course. Even when I missed greens, I stayed confident around the edges.”
Que’s final round also signals that he rounded out to top form during the week. The former Philippine Open champion shot himself in the foot with an opening 71 on Tuesday but played the last three rounds at 13-under, certainly something he can take with him to Marapara.
The Pradera Verde and Eagle Ridge legs champion, Que eagled the second hole and had four more birdies in a bogey-free round, and with that, will come into next week as one of the players to watch.
Jahns knows he will have to beat the same field again next week to win three in a row, and he’s ready to take the same approach.
“With how I’m playing now, I feel confident. But I’ll keep taking it one shot at a time,” he said.
