Bayron peaks at Summit, fires pacesetting 65

LIPA, Batangas, Philippines – Jay Bayron came charging home with four birdies at the back and sneaked past unfancied Rico Depilo and young turk Keanu Jahns with a seven-under 65 for a one-stroke lead at the start of the ICTSI Summit Point Classic at Summit Point Golf and Country Club here yesterday.

Bayron, seeking an end to a long winless spell on the ICTSI-sponsored circuit, actually put his title bid in motion early with a four-birdie splurge in the first seven holes only to reel back with a bogey mishap on the par-5 ninth. But the ace Davaoeño shotmaker regained his touch at the back, birdying No. 10th and closing out with three birdies in the last five holes to move on top of the 73-player starting field.

He immediately left after turning in his scorecard, which nevertheless showed the brilliance in the man who had posted eight Top 10 finishes this year but just could not seem to put it all together to nail the elusive crown. He opened with back-to-back birdies, rammed in another pair on Nos. 5 and 7 before he was stopped on his tracks when he failed to return a par from six feet.

But a host of others lurked just behind with Depilo putting in a bogey-free 66 to tie Jahns at second, Jhonnel Ababa, Orlan Sumcad and Korean Park Jun Hyeok carding identical 67s for joint fourth, Rufino Bayron nearly blowing a fiery 31 at the back with a closing 37 for a 68, and Tony Lascuña tieing Elmer Salvador at eighth with 69s.

Cassius Casas, Michael Bibat, Ferdie Aunzo, Zanieboy Gialon, Rolando Marabe, Clyde Mondilla and another Korean Park Jun Song stood at joint 10th with similar 70s while Miguel Tabuena rallied with two birdies in the last five holes to salvage a 71 and remain in early contention in the P1.5 million event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

Other one-under par scorers were John Kier Abdon, Jun Bernis, Glenn de Leon, Anthony Fernando, Randy Garalde, James Ryan Lam, Jet Mathay, Rey Pagunsan, Jan Tambogon, Dutch Guido Van der Valk and Korean Kim Yoo Han while Arnold Villacencio, who nipped Tabuena in a playoff to claim his first pro win in 27 years, struggled coming home at the front with a 38 and settled for a 72 in a tie with Tonlits Asistio, Mars Pucay, Miguel Ochoa and Kevin Tayao.

For a while Depilo and Jahns shared the spotlight with early 66s with the former highlighting his 32-34 card with a superb 6-iron second shot from 205 yards on the par-5 No. 3 to within a grip-length for eagle. He then birdied the last two par 5s on Nos. 5 and 9.

“I’m not a bit surprised with my score. I’ve shot a couple of 66s in the first round in the past, including one where I almost missed the cut the following day,” said Depilo, who had posted a couple of wins, one in a 54-hole tournament at Villamor and the other in partnership with fellow pro Robert Pactolerin.

“But I hope to contend for this one. I’ll try just to hang in there and see what happens,” added the 43-year-old Depilo, a Davaoeño who calls the Las Piñas Driving Range his home.

Jahns also made a sizzling start at the back with four birdies in the first seven holes, added another on No. 2 then matched Depilo’s eagle on the third. But he bogeyed Nos. 6 and 7 and needed to birdie the par-5 ninth to stay in joint second in the early going of the 72-hole championship backed by Custom Clubmakers, Titleist, NikeGolf, Pacsports, Callaway, Srixon, KZG, Sharp and FootJoy.