Season winds up at tree-lined Marapara with Jaraula seeking back-to-back

Reymon Jaraula goes for two-in-a-row in Bacolod. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Reymon Jaraula owns the final chance for someone to win back-to-back this season.

For eight others, the ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic is the last chance to win a second leg, while for the rest, this week represents the chance to win one as the Philippine Golf Tour concludes its season on Friday at tree-lined Marapara in Bacolod.

“I’ve been working hard on my game,” Jaraula said after turning back basically the same field last Friday at Bintin for his third career win. “Staying focused will be the key (this week), because I also want to experience winning back-to-back.”

The P2.5 million event gets going on Tuesday over the relatively short but tough-as-nails course where most of those who won the first eight legs are entered.

Zanieboy Gialon, who broke away in the final round to claim a sixth title in the Iloilo stop, is among them. Jonel Ababa (Apo), Clyde Mondilla (Caliraya), LJ Go (Palos Verdes), Antonio Lascuña (Splendido) and Angelo Que (Philippine Masters) are also entered this week.

A tough feat

“It’s very tough to do that,” Gialon told the Inquirer in Filipino after finishing out of contention last week when he tried to win two-in-a-row. “So now it’s about who gets to win a second [title this season]. And I hope to be able to put myself in the mix.”

Ira Alido, meanwhile, returns to the same venue where he pulled off a stunning comeback last year when he wiped out a five-stroke deficit to edge out Lascuña and Rupert Zaragosa with a clutch birdie putt on the 72nd hole.

Alido, however, has contended since then and has sharpened his skills on the Asian Development and Asian Tours. But a second career win has remained just out of reach. INQ