MANILA, Philippines - Jay Bayron checked a backside meltdown with a closing birdie as he shot a two-under 70 to trail Aussies Kieran Pratt and Wade Ormsby by three at the start of the Panasonic Open India 2013 at the Delhi Golf Club in New Delhi yesterday.
Bayron, the reigning Order of Merit champion of the Asian Development Tour, the farm circuit of the Asian Tour, went on a hot start of 33 but fumbled with two bogeys on the first four holes at the back.
The ace Filipino shotmaker, gearing up for next week’s Solaire Open at Wack Wack needed to sink a seven-footer for birdie to salvage a 70 for joint third with five others.
Pratt and Ormsby shot a pair of bogey-free 67s to seize control of the field in the $300,000 event serving as the sixth leg of the region’s premier pro tour.
Other 70 scorers were Lionel Weber, Angad Cheema of South Africa, Australian Adam Groom, India’s Chiragh Kumar and Thai Boonchu Ruangkit.
Mars Pucay rallied with a 34 at the back to save a 73 but stood six shots off the pace while Miguel Tabuena, winner of the local circuit’s opening leg at Sherwood last month, groped for form with a 75.