In a mano-a-mano showdown between friends on and off the course, Keanu Jahns kept landing punches from start to finish, flooring Angelo Que with a blazing final-round charge to capture the fiercely contested ICTSI Caliraya Springs Championship with a blistering 64 on Friday in Cavinti, Laguna.
Despite the lopsided four-stroke margin, the finale felt like it deserved extra holes — not out of necessity, but simply to savor more of the spectacular shotmaking and putting brilliance both players displayed under calm skies at the Lakeside course of Caliraya Springs Golf Club.
Jahns seized control from the opening tee, using his length to set up precise wedge approaches and relying on a steady putter to finish the job. The 29-year-old Fil-German star closed with an eight-under card, fueled by a scorching five-birdie stretch starting at No.5 that would have rattled any challenger.
But it was his composure over the closing stretch — four birdies in the last seven holes under heavy pressure from Que, who had dominated the early legs of the season — that transformed a tightly anticipated duel into a runaway victory.
Jahns showcased the full range of his arsenal: power, consistency, precision, and poise — qualities that set him apart, at least in this P2.5-million championship.
Two up with two to play, Jahns birdied the 17th while Que faltered with a bogey from the bunker, sealing the contest with authority.
“I just stayed composed and kept pace with Angelo because I knew someone was bound to shoot another low score today. We were battling it out up until No. 15 — it was a great match,” said Jahns, who finished with a 72-hole total of 22-under 266 to claim a decisive win over the Tour’s hottest player.
Reflecting on the intense duel with Que, Jahns, who pocketed P440,000, added: “It was fun. I enjoy these kinds of battles. They test your experience and character, and I’m proud I handled the pressure well.”
With the outcome all but sealed, the walk up the 18th became a victory march for Jahns, who had been steadily regaining momentum on the Philippine Golf Tour with a tie for sixth at Pradera Verde, a share of 17th at Eagle Ridge, and a runner-up finish at Forest Hills.
Que, ever the fighter, matched fire with fire for much of the round, mounting birdie surges to stay close. But bogeys and missed chances crept in. Just one back entering the final round, he matched Jahns’ frontside 32 with a five-birdie, one-bogey performance, highlighted by back-to-back birdies on Nos. 5 and 7.
As Jahns shifted into overdrive, Que couldn’t keep pace, closing with a two-birdie, one-bogey back nine. He signed off with a second straight 67 for a 270 total, settling for runner-up honors and P287,500.
Rupert Zaragosa staged a late rally with a four-birdie blitz from No. 12 to card a 68, grabbing solo third at 274 and earning P160,000.
Fidel Concepcion, who started the day just two shots behind and had only two bogeys over 54 holes, stumbled in the finale. A bogey-birdie front-nine split left him six back at the turn. Though he managed three birdies against one bogey on the back nine, a costly double bogey on the last hole dropped him to fourth at 276, worth P127,500.
Justin Quiban battled back with a 67, while Carl Corpus posted a 70 as they shared fifth at 278, splitting P183,500.
Sean Ramos followed up a solid third-round 67 with a bogey-free 68 to tie for seventh at 279 alongside Jhonnel Ababa (72), Aidric Chan (73), and Collin Wheeler (73).
Still, this was Jahns’ day. Despite his hot start of five birdies, he remained grounded and focused.
“I didn’t try to do anything special,” he said. “I just stuck to my routine and committed to every shot. One shot at a time — that’s always the goal.”
He admitted it wasn’t until the 17th that the title felt secure.
“After I birdied No. 15 to go two up, I felt more confident,” Jahns recalled. “On 16, we both had to grind for par. Then on 17, Angelo hit the bunker and made bogey. I made birdie — that was the turning point.”
That decisive two-shot swing transformed a tense duel into a coronation.
Jahns tried to pull away earlier with a birdie on 10, but Que responded on 11. Both birdied the par-5 12th, setting the stage for a nail-biting finish.
Que, a three-time Asian Tour winner, kept pressing with calculated aggression. But Jahns stayed sharp, delivering clutch tee shots and nerveless birdie conversions.
When the final putt dropped, Jahns had not only secured his second career victory, but had also emerged triumphant from one of the most compelling head-to-head battles in recent PGT memory.
Asked about the key to his breakthrough, Jahns said: “It’s about having no expectations. Just sticking to my process, staying present and focusing on execution.”
On what the win meant to his game, he added: “It’s a great confidence boost. My game is heading in the right direction. I made mistakes earlier this week, and I know exactly what to work on. I’ll keep grinding and keep getting better.”
