Late bogey drops Casas to 3-way tie

ILOILO, Philippines – Cassius Casas missed seizing the solo lead with a missed green bogey on No. 18, settling for a three-under 67 and dropping into a share of the lead with favorite Jay Bayron and unfancied Danny Zarate at the start of the ICTSI Iloilo Golf Challenge at the Iloilo Golf and Country Club in Sta. Barbara here yesterday.

Coming off a missed-cut stint at ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic in Bacolod last week, Casas recalled his old form and came through with a near-impeccable iron game that set up birdie chances within six feet, four of which he made to seize control of the 75-player field.

But he hooked his drive on the par-4 18th and failed to get up-and-down on the sleek putting surface, finishing with a 34-33 card under ideal playing condition at the tight par-70 layout carved from the rolling hills of Sta. Barbara.

“Pwede pa, kaya pang manalo uli (I think I can still win),” said Casas, who used to dominate the local circuit but has since slowed down the last few years, posting just one “lucky” win last year when three players were disqualified on a final hole infraction at the ICTSI Del Monte Championship in Bukidnon.

But while Casas blew the chance for the solo lead, Bayron and Zarate got a piece of it by birdying the short 335-yard No. 18, forging a three-way tie while four others were bunched at 68, one stroke behind, in what promises to be another tight, wild finish in this seventh leg of the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour.

Bayron, installed as the favorite in the 54-hole event in the absence of the tour’s big guns who are competing in the Asian Tour’s Selangor Masters, hit four birdies against a bogey at the par-70 layout, putting himself in early contention for the top P200,000 purse in the 54-hole event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

But while the ace Davaoeño shotmaker’s surge was expected, Zarate’s splendid backside stint came as a big surprise as the veteran campaigner failed to contend again after ruling the kickoff leg of the revival of the local circuit at Mt. Malarayat in 2009.

He actually turned in a so-so performance after nine holes with three birdies against the same number of bogeys but surged ahead with three birdies in a bogey-free stint at the back, highlighted by a 25-footer on the par-5 No. 14.

“I just got lucky,” said Zarate, who also bucked a right-hand injury to turn in one of the day’s best scores at the relatively short 36-34 layout with a couple of reachable par-4s for the tour’s long-hitters.

“But the greens are tough, very undulating. You have to come up with good approach shots to score here,” said the Sanyo Seiki-backed pro, who hopes to duplicate his feat at Malarayat where he led from start to finish to rule the inaugural staging of the circuit backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Unilab, BDO, Titleist, Sharp, Custom Clubmakers, Mizuno, Empire Golf & Sports Shop, PinoyGolfer.com, Inquirer Golf, Omnisource International, A Round of Golf, Studio 23, Balls, and Dynamic Sports.

Former national team mainstay Jerson Balasabas shot a 69 for a four-way tie with Dante Becierra, Danilo delos Santos and amateur Paul Telly Visinica while Ramil Bisera, Jhonnel Ababa, Al Cruz and amateur Alexes Nallos matched par 70s.

Richard Sinfuego struggled on a course he calls home, hitting just one birdie while fumbling with three bogeys for a two-over 72, five strokes off the joint leaders.

Bacolod leg winner Robert Pactolerin blew what had appeared to be an inspiring start at the backside, dropping six strokes in a five-hole stretch from No. 13 after sinking a six-foot birdie putt on No. 12.

The 50-year-old veteran, who nipped Tony Lascuña in a four-hole playoff to clinch the ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic crown last week, never recovered from that 39 as he closed out with a 38 for a 77 and found himself in danger of missing the cut again.

 Meanwhile, highlights of the ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic will be aired on A Round of Golf on Aug. 4 starting at 8 p.m. on Solar Sports, while the ICTSI Iloilo Challenge will be telecast on Aug. 11.

A Round of Golf is aired every Thursday on Solar Sports.