Bayron holds off Lascuña, leads by one

MANILA, Philippines - Jay Bayron birdied the last hole to fire a three-under 69 and hold off a charging fellow Davaoeño Tony Lascuna for a one-stroke lead at the start of the ICTSI Eagle Ridge Invitational at Eagle Ridge’s Faldo Course in Cavite yesterday.

Bayron, joint fourth in the last Philippine Golf Tour leg at Sherwood, bucked a bogey mishap on No. 3 with back-to-back birdies from No. 4 then hit three more birdies against a bogey at the backside to turn in a 35-34 card in one of the early morning flights.

With the rest of the starting 78-player field groping for form after a month-long layoff and hobbling in windy condition in the afternoon, the former Order of Merit champion kept a one-shot cushion over Lascuna, who bucked the late afternoon gusts with a gritty 34 at the front for a 70.

Lascuna, seeking an end to a long title drought, birdied Nos. 4 and 6 on his way home for a two-under card but missed joining Bayron at the helm with a bogey on the eighth, needing to sink a six-footer for birdie on No. 9 to save a 34-36 card.

Marvin Dumandan, who won at John Hay last April, birdied the opening hole but flubbed a couple of birdie opportunities inside six feet to settle for a 71 in a tie with Mhark Fernando and unfancied Dante Becierra.

Fernando, the former national champion and winner of last year’s Del Monte leg, overcame a one-over card with two birdies in a five-hole stretch at the back to put himself in early contention in the P1 million, 54-hole event serving as the fourth leg of the 16-stage circuit.

Elmer Salvador, the runaway winner at Sherwood, dropped two strokes on the par-4 18th to fall in joint 16th with Peter Villaber at 74 while Miguel Tabuena, winner of the kickoff leg at Splendido, never recovered from a double-bogey on No. 4 and wound up with a 75.