Bayron paces rain-hit Aboitiz Invitational with 66

CEBU, Philippines – Jay Bayron came out of a one-hour rain delay in sizzling form, firing a six-under par 66 to humble the star-studded field and seize a one-stroke lead over Jun Bernis at the start of the Aboitiz Cebu Country Club Invitational at the Cebu Country Club course here yesterday.

Bayron, who had a string of runner-up finishes on the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour and Mercedes-Benz Tour this year, rolled in two long putts for birdies and finished with seven to negate his lone-bogey mishap on the final hole when he drove into the woods.

“I was always too eager to win it, in the process my short game suffered,” said Bayron, who hopes to settle down this time.

Heavy rains in the early morning rendered the par-72 layout soggy, forcing the organizing Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. to delay the start of the 54-hole championship serving as the 10th leg of the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour. It also allowed the players to lift, clean and replace the ball.

The last flight of Demi Saclot, Romero San Jose and Renato Penensoro failed to finish and will return early today to complete its round.

But 21 players turned in under-par scores at the end of the long day, including Frankie Miñoza, who showed his readiness to contend for the top P200,000 purse with 69, and Juvic Pagunsan and Angelo Que, who both fired two-under 70s.

Elmer Salvador, however, hobbled in his bid to atone for his frustrating final hole blunder in the ICTSI-Del Monte leg, finishing with a one-over 73.

Bernis, the former national amateur champion still in search of his maiden victory as a pro, holed out with a birdie on No. 18 to cap a five-under 67 for second.

ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour leg winners Marvin Dumandan and Artemio Murakami fired identical 68s for joint third in the event sponsored by Aboitiz Equity Ventures.

Dumandan, winner of the ICTSI-Sherwood leg last March, missed the cut in the next four legs then withdrew in the ICTSI-Davao leg and failed to see action in Del Monte last month due to stomach ailment.

Murakami stood at five-under after 15 holes, but flubbed two short birdie putts in the next two holes before three-putting the 18th from 16 feet.

Miñoza, on a break from his European Tour and Japan PGA Tour campaigns, could’ve tied Dumandan and Murakami but muffed a 10-foot birdie putt on the final hole.

“I could still hold my own against the young guys,” said Miñoza, 50, in jest. He missed a three-footer for his lone bogey on No. 4.

Tied with Miñoza were Rey Pagunsan, Albin Engino and Guido Van Der Valk, an Asian Tour regular from the Netherlands.

Joining Que and Pagunsan at 70 were Ramil Bisera, Robert Pactolerin, Richard Abaring, Antonio Lascuña and amateurs Mark Fernando and Jonel Ababa while Richard Sinfuego, Gerald Rosales, Ferdinand Aunzo, Ryan James Lam and Ronald Pactolerin all had 71s.