Zaragosa is hot

BUKIDNON — It’s getting wild up in the mountains.

A fearless Rupert Zaragosa lit up Del Monte Golf Club with a blistering 8-under 64 on Wednesday, vaulting to the top of the ICTSI Del Monte Championship leaderboard and setting up what could be one of the most thrilling weekends on the Philippine Golf Tour this season.

At 12-under 132, the pint-sized powerhouse from Lubao, Pampanga, looks every bit like the man to beat — continuing his scorching form after a dominant win in Negros Occidental last month.

“Compared to yesterday, my irons clicked, giving me several birdie opportunities,” Zaragosa said, after matching Clyde Mondilla’s course record with a round built on pure precision — eight birdies, zero hesitation.

He bounced back from a birdie-bogey start with a flurry of four birdies in seven holes, then stayed hot coming in, closing with back-to-back birdies inside eight feet on Nos. 8 and 9.

But even with a two-shot cushion, Zaragosa is keeping things grounded.

“Kuya Reymon is right behind me — he knows this course like the back of his hand,” he said, referring to local favorite Reymon Jaraula. “I won’t worry about how the others are playing — I’ll just focus on my own game.”

And he’s right to keep an eye on the Bukidnon boys.

Jaraula, the soft-spoken hometown ace, fired a bogey-free 66 to jump to solo second at 10-under 134.

A product of Del Monte’s storied grassroots program, he’s chasing a long-awaited win on his home turf after narrowly missing out to Mondilla here last year.

“Yesterday I struggled with my putting, but today it finally clicked,” Jaraula said with a grin. “Just stay focused on the game tomorrow — whatever the result is, I’ll accept it.”

His round was all about control — six birdies inside six feet, no mistakes, and ice-cold par saves when it mattered most. “Importante na pamilyar ka dito sa course. Mas masarap manalo dito kasi dito ako nag-umpisa,” he added.

Behind them, Michael Bibat (71) and Arnold Villacencio (69) sit at 8-under, while Mondilla — Del Monte’s own legend — reminded everyone why his name still commands respect.

The former Philippine Open champion posted a fiery 66, capped by a stunning eagle-3 on the par-5 18th, after a 320-yard drive and a crisp 5-iron to three feet.

Behind the leaders, the pack is stacked. Veterans Jay Bayron, Tony Lascuña, and Elmer Salvador are lurking, alongside young guns Keanu Jahns, Yudai Nakakuki, and Russell Bautista, all within striking range.

In all, 43 players made the cut at 145 — including amateur standout Ralph Batican, who’s proving he can hang with the pros.

With only six strokes separating the top 14, anything can happen over the next two rounds. The fairways are tight, the greens are slick, and the crowd will be loud — especially if a hometown hero rises.

As Zaragosa put it best:

“Del Monte is longer and tougher than Marapara. I’ll need my long irons to deliver if I want to stay in contention.”