Zaragosa seeks third straight Negros Occidental Classic title

MANILA — Rupert Zaragosa returns to Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club on Monday, Sept. 21, seeking a third consecutive ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic title and a place in Philippine Golf Tour history.

Zaragosa will try to extend his winning run at the Marapara layout, where he has captured the tournament in each of the past two years.

He first won at Marapara in 2024, taking an abbreviated 36-hole tournament after bad weather forced organizers to cut the event in half.

Zaragosa returned in 2025 and proved his first victory was no fluke by winning the full 72-hole tournament.

He held off a strong field led by Clyde Mondilla, Keanu Jahns, and Aidric Chan to win by two strokes.

A third consecutive victory would make Zaragosa the first player on the Philippine Golf Tour to win the same event three straight times at the same venue.

The tight Marapara layout has suited Zaragosa’s strengths in shotmaking, touch around the greens, course management, and navigating trouble.

The defending champion, however, enters the PHP 2.5 million tournament after an uneven start through the first five legs of the season.

Zaragosa finished eighth at Lakewood, tied for 31st at Caliraya Springs, placed fourth at Pinewoods, tied for sixth at Pradera Verde, and slipped to a tie for 29th at Summit Point last week.

Marapara presents a different test, with its narrow and demanding layout placing greater emphasis on accuracy, course management, short-game execution, and decision-making than sheer distance off the tee.

Zaragosa and the rest of the field will have a final look at the course during Sunday’s traditional pro-am before the tournament’s unusual Monday start.

The 2026 ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic is scheduled Sept. 21–24 at Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club.

A deep field of proven winners and other contenders stands between Zaragosa and a third straight championship.

Tony Lascuña, Reymon Jaraula, Jhonnel Ababa, Fidel Concepcion, Enrico Gallardo, Jay Bayron, Mars Pucay, and Dino Villanueva are among those set to challenge for the title.

Younger players Kristoffer Arevalo, Russell Bautista, Jeffren Lumbo, and Gab Manotoc are also expected to contend.

Several leading players will miss the Negros stop while competing on the regional circuit in Taiwan, including Justin Quiban, Carl Corpus, and Chan.

Angelo Que, fresh from his victory at Summit Point, is also competing in Taiwan but plans to play in Negros after skipping Sunday’s pro-am.

The reigning Order of Merit champion and three-time Asian Tour winner is expected to return to Manila on Sunday night.

“For Marapara, one really needs to keep the ball in play off the tee,” said Que.

That requirement could play to Zaragosa’s strengths as he attempts to extend a two-year winning streak on a course that rewards patience and precision.

After finding the right formula at Marapara in 2024 and 2025, Zaragosa will have another chance Monday to turn his back-to-back victories into a historic three-peat.