Aboitiz Invitational 2011 Jay Bayron starts title defense

CEBU, Philippines - Davao’s Jay Bayron opens the defense of his title today as the Aboitiz Invitational 2011 tees off at the par-70 Cebu Country Club.

Bayron, winner of last year’s title, told The Freeman that this year’s tournament will be a wide open race.

This as top guns like Frankie Miñoza, Angelo Que, and Juvic Pagunsan are not among the 106 players hoping to make the cut.

Miñoza is playing in Japan while Que is seeing action in Switzerland. Pagunsan, who is popular in Cebu, reportedly went to the host club, but pulled out from the event.

Colo Ventosa, general manager of the organizing Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc., told The Freeman that Pagunsan is not seeing action due to a foot injury.

The pro from the town of Murcia, Negros Occidental, leads the order of merit of the Philippine Tour with total earnings of over P1.4 million.

Ventosa said that among the favorites now would be veterans like Mars Pucay, Bayron, and Tony Lascuña.

Bayron said that the tough greens would be the biggest obstacle for them in the tournament.

“Di man mobite ang green,” he said while playing in the pro-am event, which was held yesterday as an appetizer for the tournament.

A total of $65,000 have been put on the line for the tournament with the champion set to take home a little over $11,000.

Only the top 50 players including ties will make the cut.

Bayron said that last year, he came to Cebu with six bridesmaid finishes and finally made it here.

This year, he has been runner-up thrice. He finished second to Pagunsan in the ICTSI Royal Northwoods leg, which opened the season. He was also second to Jhonnel Ababa in the Iloilo leg losing in the playoff.

What could be his biggest finish this year was as runner-up to Berry Henson in the Philippine Open played at the Wack-Wack Golf and Country Club.

Bayron said that he hopes to again break his string of runner-up finishes in Cebu this year, but said that it seems quite difficult.

To prepare the course for this tournament mainly backed by Aboitiz Equity Ventures and presented by International Container Services Inc., the course has been shortened to par-70 from par-72. Holes number 7 and 11, which normally plays as par-5 have been made par-4 holes.

Several players of the Asian Development Tour, the qualifying school for the Asian Tour, are also taking part in this event, which is the biggest-ever professional golf tournament in Cebu.

PRO-AM RESULTS

Elmer Salvador, who runs second in the order of merit, led his team to the title of this special event yesterday.

His team scored 15-under-par 55 strokes. The amateurs in the squad were Derrick Chua, Robert Tiu, and Joe Soberano.

First runner-up honors went to the team led by pro Gene Bondoc with a score of 14-under-par 56 strokes. The amateurs in the team were Boy Escaño, Bruce Chiongbian, and Noel Ybañez.

Second runner-up was the team of pro Andy Choi with a score of 13-under-par 57 strokes. The amateurs in the squad were Carol Cunningham, Bruce Winton, and Gen Nagai. (FREEMAN)