BAGUIO, Philippines – Rufino Bayron took charge in a day of torrid scoring at the Camp John Hay Golf Club here, firing a bogey-free eight-under 60 to snatch a one-stroke lead over Miguel Tabuena, Jhonnel Ababa and Clyde Mondilla in a sizzling start of the rich ICTSI Camp John Hay Championship yesterday.
Bayron used a solid frontside stint to launch his title bid in this P2.5 million event then knocked in three more birdies at the back to complete a pair of 30s and lead the pros’ attack on the par-68 layout that lay defenseless in the absence of the wind, reachable par-4s and 5s and receptive greens.
Thirty players shot one-under or better while two others matched par although it could get tougher with weather expected to improve after days of rain that rendered the fairways soggy, forcing the organizing Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc. to use the preferred lies rule.
“There was practically no wind and my game clicked, especially putting, which is key to winning here,†said Bayron in Filipino after surging past Tabuena, Ababa and Mondilla in one of the late afternoon flights. His 60 barely matched Fil-Am Carl Santos-Ocampo’s record 59 he set in the second round here last year.
“The preferred lies rule also helped since it’s tough to hit the ball covered with mud. But it’s a good start with so many players turning in low scores. Bakbakan ito,†added Bayron, who lost to Frankie Miñoza in a playoff in The Country Club Invitational last February and finished way down in 24th in the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour’s kickoff leg at Sherwood last month.
Tabuena ruled that event, also a P2.5 million tournament sponsored by ICTSI, with a runaway eight-shot win over Edward Reyes and the teen ace shotmaker underscored his bid to go back-to-back by carding a 61 that once stood as the best before Bayron hit his last birdie on the par-5 17th and snatched the lead.
Bayron missed just one fairway when he hit a tree on the par-4 10th but came through with a superb knocked down shot that set up a six-footer for birdie.
“It’s a world-class shot,†he said in jest.
Like Bayron, Tabuena made the turn at five-under 30, highlighted by three straight birdies from No. 4 but slowed down a bit at the back with two birdies for that 61.
While Bayron and Tabuena went on a strong start, Mondilla rallied at the back with a 29, spiked by a three-birdie string from No. 15 as the former national team mainstay put himself in early contention for the top P450,000 purse and a breakthrough victory in the circuit backed by Nike Golf, Empire Golf and Sports Shop, Mizuno, Titleist, Srixon, Foot Joy, Callaway, Pacsports, Custom Clubmakers, Cleveland Golf and Sharp.
“I just hope to keep my form and solid shotmaking in the next three days,†said the soft-spoken Mondilla, No. 7 in last year’s Order of Merit ranking who ended up joint 16th at Sherwood Hills.
Ababa, raring to redeem himself from a winless campaign last year after a three-leg romp in 2011, turned in the most explosive wind-up under overcast skies – a four-under card in the last three holes – to make it a crowded leaderboard.
Held back by a bogey on the par-3 12th, Ababa gunned down an eagle on the par-5 then closed out with a birdie-birdie feat to tie Tabuena and Mondilla.
Santos-Ocampo, who cracked in the final round and lost to Marvin Dumandan after wresting control with that record 59 last year, was at it again, birdying the first two holes and hitting four more birdies to complete a flawless 62 for joint fifth with Dutch Guido Van der Valk.
“There’s a lot of birdie holes and overall, it’s a virtual walk in the park,†said Santos-Ocampo.
Mars Pucay and Michael Bibat fired a pair of 63s for joint seventh while Dumandan missed joining them with an unlikely bogey on the 18th, dropping into a tie for ninth with former Philippine Open champion Gerald Rosales, Jomar Pepito, Benjie Magada, Rolando Marabe, Bobby Diocares, Tony Lascuña and Reyes at 64s.
Jay Bayron, Japanese Tomokazu Yoshinaga and Randy Garalde carded 65s while Elmer Salvador, Ferdie Aunzo and James Ryan Lam shot identical 66s and seven others made 67s and two had even par cards.