Bayron storms to 5-shot edge

SILANG, Cavite, Philippines  – Jay Bayron flashed superb putting and turned in a solid four-under 67, pulling away with a five-stroke lead over Rey Pagunsan as the rest continued to struggle at Riviera’s Langer layout in the second round of the P1 million ICTSI Riviera Classic here.

Coming off a shaky first round 73 in tough condition late Wednesday, Bayron took full advantage of his early morning start yesterday, ramming in six birdies inside 10 feet against a bogey from an errant drive for a 32-35 card as he moved closer to completing a back-to-back title romp in the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour.

With a 140 aggregate, the runaway winner of the recent Aboitiz Invitational presented by ICTSI in Cebu stood five shots ahead of Pagunsan, who rolled in a 20-footer for par on the 18th to preserve a closing 33 for a 72.

“I was so confident of my putting and made five sidehill-downhill putts,” said Bayron, who banged in a 25-foot birdie putt on No. 3 to get him into the groove. He made a couple of 10 footers on Nos. 7 and 9 then negated a bogey mishap on No. 11 with birdies on Nos. 13 and 16.

Pagunsan, who spent the early part of the season in Japan, recovered from a woeful 39 at the front, firing four bogeys in the last nine holes against a bogey for that 72 and a 145.

Like Bayron, the power-hitting Pagunsan leaned on his putting, sinking birdies inside seven feet on Nos. 10, 11, 13 and 15.

“I putted very well today (yesterday),” said Pagunsan. “But it’s nice to be in the hunt. This is my best chance to win in a long while.”

But he must beat the best in the field as Bayron poised himself up for another victory after closing out with a brilliant 30 to rout the field by five in the Aboitiz Invitational.

With Anthony Fernando wavering with a three-over 74 and dropping six shots behind at 146 and Jhonnel Ababa also carding a 74 for a 147, the battle for the top P200,000 purse in this 11th leg of the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. could be just down to the top two players.

But anything can still happen at Langer.

Antonio Asistio II and Cassius Casas, who shared the first round lead with 71s, struggled with their long game and made a pair of 77s as they tumbled down to 148 in a tie with last year’s national champion Clyde Mondilla, who carded a 74.

Marvin Dumandan bounced back a bit with a 72 after a 76 as he joined Casas, Asistio and Mondilla in fourth place while Rufino Bayron and Gary Sales both shot 72s to be at 149 in the company of Ramil Bisera (76), Jerson Balasabas (74) and amateur Art Arbole (75).

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