STA. ROSA, Laguna – In a nail-biting semifinal spectacle at the ICTSI The Country Club (TCC) Match Play Invitational, Keanu Jahns punched his ticket to a dream men’s final against Guido van der Valk, setting the stage for a generational clash of power versus precision on the pristine fairways of The Country Club. Meanwhile, in the women’s draw, Martina Miñoza’s steely comeback scripted a blockbuster title tilt with Mafy Singson, as both young guns traded birdies and grit under the relentless Laguna sun.
Jahns, the 22-year-old prodigy with a swing that echoes the islands’ unbridled energy, dismantled Reymon Jaraula 6&4 in the semis, capping a day of redemption after clawing back from two holes down to edge Tony Lascuña earlier. “I didn’t play spectacular, just steady. Par is a good score on this course,” Jahns reflected post-match, his maturity belying his years as he eyes a crack at van der Valk’s veteran savvy. The Dutch-Filipino ace, no stranger to TCC’s tricky greens, sealed his spot with a 3&2 romp over Clyde Mondilla, punctuated by a crowd-roaring hole-in-one on the par-3 No. 3 that snagged him a bonus trophy. “It’s tiring, but I didn’t have to go all 36 today. The ace helped a lot,” van der Valk quipped, flashing that trademark grin that’s become his calling card in these pressure-cooker formats.
Over in the ladies’ bracket, it was pure drama from the tee. Miñoza, guided by her father and caddie Ben’s laser-sharp reads, staged a stunning rally from two down to stun Harmie Constantino 2&1, draining a clutch birdie on the 17th to ice the deal. “I didn’t expect to win. But I stayed confident and focused,” the young phenom admitted, crediting her iron play for turning the tide in a match that tested every ounce of her resolve. Waiting in the wings? Singson, who grinded out a heart-stopper against Daniella Uy, holing a wedge to a foot on the 17th for the winning birdie after a seesaw slugfest. “Martina is very steady. If she plays well, I have to be better,” Singson said, already sharpening her short game for what promises to be a finals fireworks display.
The TCC Invitational, a match-play marquee that demands not just distance but dissecting defenses over 36 holes of head-to-head havoc, has lived up to its billing on these Laguna links – a course that punishes the impatient with water traps and whispers of wind. With Jahns’ raw firepower pitted against van der Valk’s disciplined shot-shaping, and Miñoza’s poise facing Singson’s scrambling smarts, Friday’s finals could crown new heroes in Philippine golf’s glittering gallery. For these contenders, it’s more than a trophy; it’s a testament to the grit that defines the green – one precise putt at a time.