Bayron posts 1-shot edge

TRECE MARTIREZ, Cavite , Philippines  – Jay Bayron broke out of a five-way tie and into the solo lead as he fired a second straight one-under 71, seizing a one-shot edge over erstwhile co-leader Marvin Dumandan after two rounds of P1 million ICTSI Sherwood Hills Classic at the Sherwood Golf and Country Club here yesterday.

Bayron, winner of the Forest Hills leg of the Philippine Golf Tour last year, kept the momentum of his fine opening day output to turn in another under-par card, hitting three birdies on Nos. 7, 10 and 15 to make up for his back-to-back bogeys from No. 13 for a 35-36 round.

With a 142 aggregate, the 30-year-old Bayron moved one shot clear of Dumandan and two over Cassius Casas and Tony Lascuña as majority of the field continued to struggle under tough playing condition on the demanding layout heading into the final 18 holes of the tournament sponsored by International Container Terminals Services, Inc.

“The pin placements are tougher but I’m glad I still came through,” said Bayron, who finished second to Elmer Salvador in last month’s ICTSI Classic at Mt. Malarayat, in Filipino.

Dumandan hit an eagle on the par-5 No. 8 to save a round of 72 although he slid to solo second with a 143 while Ferdie Aunzo shot a 71 and joined Lascuña and Casas in third at 144.

Michael Bibat, a co-leader in the first round, skied to an 80 and tumbled down to joint 25th at 151 while Juvic Pagunsan (77-154) and Elmer Salvador (74-155) also made the cut pegged at 157.

Meanwhile, Orlan Sumcad, using a KZG 6-iron and No. 3 Titleist ball, made a hole-in-one at the 192-yard No. 16 and went on to fire a 72 for a 146 to move within four shots off Bayron in the tournament serving as third leg of the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments and backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Jaguar, Land Rover, Studio 23, Balls TV and Golf Punk.

Lascuña, who survived the windy condition in a late tee-off in the first round to share the lead, made three birdies against a bogey in the first five holes to wrest control. But the regular Asian Tour campaigner bogeyed Nos. 8 and 9 and had a 37 at the back for a 73 and a 144.

“Despite our early tee-off, the wind still blew from all over, so it’s really difficult to score,” said Lascuña in Filipino.

Casas, the former Philippine Open champion who dominated the local tour in the late 90s and early 2000s, rallied on his homeward trip at the front, ramming in four birdies against two bogeys to match Bayron’s 71 and tie Lascuña at even-par 144.

Two unheralded players, meanwhile, shot respectable rounds to put themselves in contention with Randy Garalde carding a 71 and Ebarra Quachon matching par 72 for 147s, five strokes off Bayron.

Benjie Magada stood a shot farther back at 148 after a 73 for 148, while Angelo Que, one of the favorites here, lost precious strokes on a final-hole mishap and wound up with a four-over 76 for a 149.

Que, winner of the kickoff leg of this year’s circuit in The Country Club Invitational, teed off at the par-4 18th with an even-par card but failed to clear the trees and hit the water instead. He overshot the green on his fourth shot then penalized himself with a stroke after the ball moved at his address.

Elmer Saban also had a 149 after a gutsy 73 while Jhonnel Ababa emerged the leading amateur at 150 after matching par 72.

Omar Dungca shot the day’s best score of 70 as he joined Ababa, Anthony Fernando (75) and Mars Pucay (78) at 150.

Pagunsan continued to grope for form and limped home with another 77 for a 154 while Salvador, the reigning RP Open champion and Order of Merit winner, recovered from a disastrous 81 with a two-over 74 for a 155.