Reymon Jaraula  —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Reymon Jaraula’s iron game was as hot as the weather in Antipolo on Wednesday, and a five-under-par 66 shoved him to the top of the ICTSI Forest Hills Classic and into a great position of ending a lackluster string of participation ever since winning in October last year.

Jaraula landed approaches close, with all of his front nine birdies coming from just around four feet for a 36-hole 134 aggregate, a shot ahead of Dutchman Guido van der Valk and another stroke up on defending champion Keanu Jahns.

“Almost all of my approach shots were close,” Jaraula, who won in Bacolod last year, said in Filipino. “My irons were just solid throughout the round.”

Van der Valk had five birdies in a 69, like Jahns even as rookie Jeff Lumbo matched par to be four shots off the pace.

First round leader Justin Quiban struggled to a 74 to now be five shots off, falling into a tie with erstwhile second-running Tom Marcelo, who submitted a 73.

“Any tournament you win builds confidence for the rest of the season,” said van der Valk. “I’ll just go shot-by-shot and stay in the moment.”

Surviving cut

No other players made big moves, with the veteran Angelo Que climbing to an even 142 after a 69, still eight shots off and needing a big third round to matter in the final day.

Antonio Lascuña, the 54-year-old many-time winner of the Order of Merit title, barely survived the halfway cut after laboring to a 73 for 149. advancing on the dot.

Aidric Chan, who finished well in the Smart Infinity Open at Manila Southwoods early in the year, stayed mathematically in the hunt after his version of a 69 put him seven shots adrift.