Bayron stays four adrift after 71 in Malaysia

MANILA, Philippines - Rufino Bayron blew a two-under card with bogeys and a double bogey and needed a pair of birdies in the closing holes to salvage an even par 71 and move within four off the pace in the third round of the PGM Terengganu Masters of the Asian Development Tour in Malaysia yesterday.

Bayron hit back-to-back birdies from No, 16 to negate a double-bogey mishap on No. 15 and bogeys on Nos. 11 and 13 as he pooled a 54-hole aggregate of 204.

Although he dropped from joint seventh to a share of 10th, Bayron chopped off one stroke from Airil Rizman’s overnight five-shot lead as the Malaysia bet floundered with a one-over 72 for a 204.

That also enabled Grant Jackson to grab a share of the lead as the Englishman rallied with a 68 with erstwhile co-leader Darren Tan of Australia tumbling down to Bayron’s group after a five-over 76.

Swede Malcom Kokocinski shot a 67 to move within one at 205 in a tie with American Man O Im, who carded a 68, while local bet Nabil Abdul stood in solo sixth at 206 after a 70.

Mhark Fernando and Carl Santos-Ocampo also turned in a pair of 71s in tough condition for joint 18th at 210, six shots adrift heading to the final 18 holes of the event, the 11th leg of the Asian Development Tour.