Estrera-Bayron fires 73, nears pro-am title

SILANG, Cavite – Edwin Estrera and Jay Bayron took a step closer to completing a wire-to-wire finish in the P1.7 million Konica Minolta National Pro-Am, firing a two-over par 73 yesterday and pulling away by six strokes after three rounds of play at Riviera’s Langer course here yesterday.

Estrera and Bayron, who earlier carded 74 and 78, bucked two bogeys after going even par through 10 holes as they threatened to post the first runaway victory since 2001 with a three-day aggregate of 225, six ahead of new pursuers Tony Lascuna and Korean Yu Min Jong heading into the last 18 holes of the event sponsored by U-Bix Corp.

Lascuna and Jong turned in a 75 to jump from out of nowhere to second place with a 231 while Marlon Dizon and Bones Floro stood eight strokes adrift with a 233 after a 76.

"We’re still ahead but no lead is safe here at Langer," said Bayron, the reigning Philippine Amateur champion and the low amateur in the recent Philippine Open, in Filipino.

Roger Retuerto and Asian Games bronze medallist Michael Bibat also carded a 75 to tie Raul and Paul Miñoza (77) at 234, while Carito Villaroman and Sunshine Baraquiel faltered with a 78 for a 235.

Louie Dacudao and Kevin Tayao, running second the first two days, limped home with an 83 and fell 11 shots off the pace at 236 in a tie for seventh with defending champions Gerard Cantada and JR Tanpinco.

Cantada and Tanpinco, who had earlier rounds of 80-81, made a 75.

Artemio Murakami and Brent Sumampong had a 237 after a 78 while Zaldy Salvador and Rufino Bayron skied to an 81 for a 237.

Only the top 30 teams from a record starting field of 121 plus ties advanced to today’s final round of the event backed by Grappa’s Ristorante, S-Yard, PBCom, MetroBank, Caffe Appassionato, Union Bank, Holcim, Equitable Bank, Okamura Furniture, MerryMaids, Terminix, Bravo Golf, Pagcor, Land Bank, Riso Copiers, Brother & Epson printers, Pivo Praha Pilsner Beer, Citgo, WWW.Express DHL, Metrostar, My Spoon Restaurant and Rowell.

Despite a six-shot deficit, Lascuna remains hopeful of their chances for the top P234,940 purse for the pro and P58,735 worth of gift certificates for the amateur although he would need to draw a solid game from his 16-year-old partner.

"My partner has the tendency to be nervous," said Lascuna in Filipino. "He missed very short putts at least twice today and missed the green from pitching distances at least thrice."

Their three-putt bogeys on Nos. 11 and 18 were from Yu’s miscues.