ANTIPOLO—The Philippine Golf Tour winds up its 10-leg nationwide circuit with the ICTSI Valley Golf Challenge today (Tuesday), a season finale brimming with storylines – none bigger than Angelo Que’s determined push for a maiden Order of Merit title and the growing cast of contenders eager to disrupt his long-awaited coronation.
“It would be a great achievement since I’ve never won the OOM before,” said Que, who dominated the first two legs at Pradera Verde and Eagle Ridge and added a pair of runner-up finishes to take control of the OOM derby. “It would be truly satisfying to accomplish that.”
But the spotlight also swings back to breakout sensation Jeffren Lumbo, whose stunning victory as a club invitee at the ICTSI South Pacific Classic in Davao last month continues to reshape the tour’s narrative. Lumbo, who survived a tense five-hole playoff against Russell Bautista for his first-ever PGT win, enters the P2 million championship with a calm approach yet undeniable momentum.
“Ie-enjoy ko lang laro ko pero gagawin ko yung best ko sa laro every day,” said the Sarangani native, whose poised demeanor and newfound confidence make him a legitimate threat to the tour’s elite – Que, Fidel Concepcion, Guido van der Valk, Rupert Zaragosa, Reymon Jaraula, Tony Lascuña and Clyde Mondilla among them.
Despite his breakthrough, the humble first-time champion continues to temper expectations: “Wala akong expectations dahil alam ko na maraming malalakas na players sa PGT. Trust the process lang,” added Lumbo.
Bautista, for his part, is poised for a fiery rebound – not only to avenge the Davao heartbreak but to stake another claim at a title. The field becomes even deeper with the return of young standouts Aidric Chan and Carl Corpus, winners of back-to-back overseas tournaments last June, that further amplify the competitive tension.
Also joining the mix is Sean Ramos, who is coming in from a stint in Taiwan, while foreign aces Jisung Cheon, Collin Wheeler, Tae Soo Kim, Tae Won Kim, and Atsushi Ueda continue their hunt for a first PGT crown and a triumphant finish to the season.
Originally slated for July before being postponed due to adverse conditions, the Valley Golf Challenge now presents an even more daunting stage – the South Course, a layout known for exposing weaknesses and rewarding only the most disciplined shotmakers.
With its tight, tree-lined fairways, elevation shifts, meandering water hazards and slick, heavily contoured greens, Valley demands precision, patience and unwavering mental composure.
It last hosted the PGT in 2023, when Jaraula ended a long title drought with a dominant five-shot win over Mondilla and Lloyd Go.
Yet all eyes inevitably return to Que, whose quest for a first-ever OOM crown injects a compelling layer of tension into the finale. For a player who has accomplished nearly everything – wins at home and abroad, victories in pressure cookers and in runaway fashion – the OOM title remains the lone gap in an otherwise decorated career.
And that is where the unpredictability lies.
“I’ve always enjoyed playing at Valley. It’s a challenging course where you really have to strike the ball well and think your way around to score,” said Que. “I’ve been in good form over the past four weeks, and the break was refreshing for me. I’ll just keep playing the way I have these past months and, hopefully, I can contend again.”
In a tournament where anything can unravel in a single hole, Que must not only outplay a deep and fearless field – he must also outduel the pressure that shadows a player on the brink of securing a legacy-defining achievement.
If he delivers, the OOM crown becomes more than a trophy.
It becomes validation.
If he falters, the Valley Golf finale could instead script another chapter in the tour’s season of surprises.
Either way, the stage is set for a dramatic finish.
