Bayron rips field apart with 4-under 66

ILOILO, Philippines – Jay Bayron put in a solid four-under 66 to break off a crowded leaderboard and open an imposing five-stroke lead over Jhonnel Ababa in the second round of the P1 million ICTSI Iloilo Golf Challenge at the Iloilo Golf and Country Club in Sta. Barbara yesterday.

Hounded by veterans Cassius Casas and Danny Zarate at the top with 67 in the first round, Bayron turned in a near-flawless round that featured five birdies in a 14-hole stretch that started at the backside of the short par-70 layout. He missed taking a six-shot lead into the final round of the 54-hole event with a bogey on No. 8 from an errant drive.

Still, his 36-hole aggregate of seven-under 133 put him way ahead of the field with Casas and Zarate failing to match the reigning Order of Merit champion’s surge and the rest turning in mediocre rounds in another hot, humid day.

“Hindi pa rin sigurado kasi mahirap din ang course at matigas ang green (Still not sure, the course is tough, especially the greens),” said Bayron, who skipped last week’s ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic to compete on One Asia Tour where he missed the cut.

He didn’t only make the cut this week but also looked headed for a rout.

“I’ll try my best to complete the win but it’s still anybody’s race,” said Bayron, who rallied from behind in his two victories last year, including in the final leg at ICTSI Canlubang Invitational where he foiled Juvic Pagunsan to snatch the OOM crown.

Ababa took the challenger’s role at 138 after a 68 as Zarate fumbled with a two-over 72 and tumbled to joint third at 139 with Gene Bondoc, who had a 68, Danilo delos Santos, who carded a 70, and Randy Garalde, who made a 71.

Ababa, the former amateur hotshot, birdied three of the last eight holes at the back to get a crack at the crown but would need nothing less than a spectacular round to foil Bayron in the 54-hole tournament organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

Casas, on the other hand, struggled on the sleek putting surface all day, making three three-putt bogeys while flubbing par-putts from as close as four feet to drop to a share of 14th at 141, eight strokes off Bayron.

Casas hit just two birdies after making four Wednesday that propelled him to a share of the lead while salvaging a good bogey on the par-4 No. 11 where he drove out of bounds.

Antonio Asistio II, still searching for the proverbial killer’s instinct after blowing at least two title bids on a final round meltdown, gunned down six birdies against four bogeys for a 68 as he tied Jun Bernis, Ruben Sasutil and Edgar Ababa, who all shot 69s, at 140.

Rookie Carl Santos-Ocampo charged home with a 68, Dante Becierra turned in a 71 and Rufino Bayron made a 72, to join the 140 group.

The event is backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Unilab, BDO, Titleist, Sharp, Custom Clubmakers, Mizuno, Empire Golf and Sports Shop,PinoyGolfer.com, Inquirer Golf, Omnisource International, A Round of Golf, Studio 23, Balls, and Dynamic Sports.