Bayron nears title with two-under 70

MANILA, Philippines - Jay Bayron moved in the threshold of a breakthrough victory on the Mercedes-Benz Tour, whisking the challenge of Asian Tour veteran Juvic Pagunsan and seizing a two-stroke lead over Mars Pucay with a two-under 70 in the third round of the MB Masters Philippines at the Manila Southwoods’ Legends Course in Carmona, Cavite yesterday.

Bayron, who started the round one shot ahead of Pagunsan, held his own against his fancied fellow Davaoeno shotmaker and Pucay majority of the way then bucked a wet bogey on the par-5 17th to salvage a 70 for a 54-hole haul of 13-under 203.

He instead made it a two-shot cushion heading into the final round of the $60,000 championship, this time over Pucay, who also shot a 70 for a 205.

Pagunsan, tipped to win the circuit’s kickoff tournament when he closed to within one with a solid 66 Thursday, fumbled with a 73 and slid to joint third with Angelo Que (68) and Dutch Guido Van Der Valk (71) at 207, four shots behind.

Artemio Murakami equaled the course record of eight-under 64 to bounce back into contention with a 208 although he stood five shots behind the 30-year-old Bayron, who won a leg on the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour last year. Defending champion Wisut Artjanawat of Thailand fired a 68 and tied Murakami in sixth.

“I am happy but nervous. I have not been in this position before. It was quite difficult out there as it was windy at times. A two-shot lead is not much so tomorrow (today), if conditions are like today (yesterday), I will have to play really well,” said Bayron.

The former national team mainstay and spearhead of the ICTSI amateur golf squad first appeared on the Mercedes-Benz Tour in 2007 when he finished as the leading amateur in the Mercedes-Benz Masters Vietnam.

He turned pro the following year and has made good progress on the pro circuit here and abroad although this week marks his most impressive performance in an international tournament with a victory surely to further boost his confidence.

Pucay has not won on the tour for a long time, his last victory coming in the Active Mt Malarayat Championship two years ago.

‘I think I am due for a win. I have been playing well and seem to be in contention a lot. There are many good players in with a chance tomorrow so I will have to be on my A-game,” said Pucay.

Also with an outside chance on the final day are Singapore’s Quincy Quek (68), Malaysian Nicholas Fung (72) and Felix Casas (67), who all tote 209s, six shots adrift.

Murakami, who stood 11 shots behind Bayron at the start of another windy day, sizzled with a 30 at the back from where he started, opening with an eagle-birdie-birdie-birdie start before sinking another birdie on No. 16 for a 30. He rammed in four more birdies at the front to negate two bogeys.