Davao’s Bayron bucks poor finish, leads by 4

Calatagan, Batangas — Rufino Bayron, hoping to follow the footsteps of his brother Jay, is on the right track.

Bayron fired an eagle-spiked 72 yesterday and seized a four-stroke lead despite a faltering finish at the start of the second National Caddies Open at the Calatagan Golf Club here yesterday.

"I want to be like my brother," said Bayron in Filipino, referring to Jay, a member of the RP squad that copped the gold medal in the last 23rd Southeast Asian Games.

The 24-year-old Davao City native, who placed seventh in last year’s inaugural staging of this event put up by the Philippine Amateur Golf Foundation to help develop amateur golf in the country, eagled No. 13 that somehow cushioned the impact of his two bogeys on the last five holes. He had 36-36.

Teeners Zannie Boy Gialon and Paul Echavez, playing out of Apo, carded 76s to join Mark Fernando and Jessie Balasabas in second spot.

Echavez, 17, actually paced the field with a solid 34 from his opening hole birdie and another one on No. 4 only to falter with bogeys on Nos. 10 and 17 and double bogeys on the 13th and 15th of the up-and-down layout and reeled back with a 42.

That enabled Gialon (37-39), Fernando (39-37) and Balasabas (38-38) of Zamboanga City to join him at second while Ronel Cornejo (41-37) of Villamor, Rodel Revilleza (40-38) of Lanang, Joleo Torrecampo (39-39) of Marapara and Luisito de Asis (38-40) of Davao Golf all carded 78s.

Rounding up the top 10 with 79s were Jeff Tumbaga (38-41) of Camp Evangelista, Gerry Sales (40-39) of Villamor, Jornie Espora (41-38) of Lanang, Noli Pook (41-38) of Sarangani, Louie Manday (41-38) of Peninsula Golf and Angelo Anzures (41-38) of Veterans.

The top three placers after four rounds of this course-hopping tournament, sponsored by San Miguel Corp., Philippine Sports Commission and Pagcor, will gain spots in the NCO pool.

A total of 26 entries failed to make the cut with the remaining 73 resuming their hunt for NCO pool berths today. The last two rounds will be played in Canlubang and Wack Wack, respectively.