Asistio, Bayron pace Putra Cup qualifier

MANILA, Philippines - Antonio Asistio shot a one-under par 71 to top the first half of the 108-hole Putra Cup qualifier at the Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club course in Lipa City, Batangas yesterday.

Asistio, who sizzled with a 65 in the first round but faltered with a 73 Thursday, stumbled with an early bogey on No. 2 but made three straight birdies from No. 5 then hit one more birdie against two bogeys to finish with a 35-36 card.

It was enough to give him the lead with a seven-under 209 total after the first of two 54-hole elims conducted by the National Golf Association of the Philippines in cooperation with Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club, which hosted the event for free through Mike Carr.

Asistio will thus take a one-stroke margin over ICTSI teammate Rufino Bayron, who matched par 72, heading into the second half of the qualifier at Riviera’s Langer layout on July 13-15.

Bayron, whose second round 66 gained him a piece of the lead Thursday, bucked a triple-bogey seven on the opening hole as he fired six birdies against three more bogeys to salvage a 37-35 card for a 210.

Peter Villaber, another ICTSI bet, shot a two-under 70 for a share of third with a charging Jhonnel Ababa of Calatagan, who shot a four-under par 68 for a 215, six shots off Asistio.

Villaber, hoping for a first-ever crack at the RP team, rallied with a 33 at the back for that 70 while Ababa matched that closing 33 to pile up the day’s lowest round.

Reigning national champion Mhark Fernando double-bogeyed No. 1 and made just one birdie against a slew of pars for a 73 as he slid to fifth with a 218, heading into the last three rounds of the grueling qualifier that will select the four members of the RP squad competing in the Putra Cup slated Aug. 18-21 in Thailand.

John Kier Abdon fired a 71 and stood in sixth with a 219 while former Hong Kong Amateur Open champion Dante Becierra and Miko Alejandro will have a lot of catching up to do at Riviera to gain a crack at the RP team berths.

Becierra made a 73 and had a 224 while Alejandro had a 76 and slid to eighth with a 227 in a tie with Dino Villanueva and Albin Engino, who closed out with 74 and 77, respectively.