Bayron fires 69, trails by three

MANILA, Philippines - Jay Bayron missed completing a big windup with a bogey on the 18th, settling for a three-under 69 for joint 13th, three shots off local ace Hyang Tung-liang and Thai Sattaya Supupramai at the start of the Ballantine’s Taiwan Championship at the Ta Kang Shan Golf Course in Kaohsiung, Taiwan yesterday.

Bayron bounced back from a one-over card after nine holes with a cluster of birdies – five, including back-to-back from No. 16 but he missed the green on the par-4 18th and flubbed a seven-footer for par for a 32.

Carl Santos-Ocampo hit three birdies in a flawless frontside stint but fumbled with three bogeys against two birdies at the back to finish with a 70 while Charles Hong sputtered with a 73 and Mars Pucay and James Ryan Lam hobbled with a pair of 75s.

Rufino Bayron, winner of an ADT leg at Orchard last month, skied to a 79 and in danger of missing the cut in the $110,000 championship.

Huang fired seven birdies against a bogey to shoot a 66, the same output put in by Supupramai, who eagled the par-5 No. 5 and gunned down four birdies to preserve a bogey-free six-under card.

The duo took a one-stroke lead over Peter Richardson and Grant Jackson of England and Michael Moore of Australia, who all had 67s, while seven players carded 68s.

Miguel Tabuena, who finished joint second in last week’s Taifong Open, opted to take a rest and prepare for the $100,000 Aboitiz Inviational set Aug. 27-30 at Riviera Golf and Country Club in Silang, Cavite.