Bayron fires ace en route to record 64

DAVAO–A flawless, course-record round with a hole-in-one to boot.

That was how national team standout and Davao native Jay Bayron tore the Rancho Palos Verdes course apart yesterday, scoring a bogey-free eight-under-par 64 for a hefty seven-stroke lead in the third leg of the Samsung Amateur Tour here.

Teeing off on the 10th, the 27-year-old Bayron exploded with six birdies, three on each nine, but it was a fantastic 6-iron on the par-3 No. 2 that rolled into the hole that highlighted the best round ever made at the Palos Verdes course.

It bettered by two strokes the 66 established by local professional Ramil Bisera in the second round of the now-defunct First Gentleman’s Circuit three years ago.

Bayron’s break-neck pace allowed him to pull away early with Ferdie Aunzo turning in the only other sub-par round for the day, a 71, and was alone in second place.

There was a big five-man logjam at 72 made up of Mike Bibat, Gene Bondoc, Mark Fernando, Boboy Jaraula and Miko Yee in the tourney sponsored chiefly by Samsung and co-sponsored by Taylor Made, C-Lium Fibre, Microtel, Titleist, Custom Clubmakers/KZG and Sunbolt. Media partners are Jam 88.3, Wave 89.1, Magic 89.9 and 99.5 RT.

Joseph Labajo (73) and Louie Dacudao (74) were in the eighth and ninth positions while Jay’s brother Rufino and Miko Alejandro were among five players at 75, leaving the race for the 10 championship slots in the final two rounds very tight.

The record round of Bayron, a member of the ICTSI team training under Bong Lopez, also made up for the non-appearance of Jayvie Agojo who was supposed to compete in ladies Class A.

PSMG head Boy Blue Ocampo said that Agojo was booked for an early flight to Davao yesterday morning but withdrew at the last minute, citing health reasons.

Bayron got going with a birdie on the second hole, went to two under on the 15th and picked up a third birdie on the 17th for a 33 coming out.