Bayron out to keep lead in MB OOM

MANILA, Philippines - Jay Bayron tries to keep a firm grip on the Mercedes-Benz Tour Order of Merit when he headlines next week’s cast in the Mt. Malarayat Championship at the Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club in Lipa, Batangas.

Bayron, in red-hot form this year, will be playing on home soil at Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club from June 23 to 26.

The $50,000 tournament is the fifth event on this year’s 10-leg Mercedes-Benz Tour.

The Filipino has not won on the Mercedes-Benz Tour yet but he finished runner-up in the opening three events and leads the Merit list with earnings of $14,674.

The 30-year-old led the season-opening Mercedes-Benz Masters Philippines for the first three days before dropping shots over the closing holes to finish joint second behind compatriot Artemio Murakami.

Thailand’s Udorn Duangdecha made an incredible up and down on the final hole to beat Bayron by one in the Singha Pattaya Open, while in the ensuing Kariza Indonesia Championship another Thai Thanyakon Khrongpha beat him in a play-off.

Bayron first appeared on the Mercedes-Benz Tour in 2007 when he finished as the leading amateur in the Mercedes-Benz Masters Vietnam.