Roaring start
Bayron, Dumandan storm ahead with 67s
LIPA City, Batangas – Jay Bayron and Marvin Dumandan took charge with identical 67s fashioned out on fiery windups on both nines in sun and rain as they wrested a one-stroke lead over an equally hot-finishing Rufino Bayron at the start of the ICTSI Classic at Mt. Malarayat composite course here yesterday.
Teeing off at Mt. Malipunyo serving as the backside, Jay Bayron bucked a doublebogey mishap on No. 14 with seven birdies, including four at Mt. Lobo capped by a three-footer on the par-5 ninth that tied the back-to-back winner at Aboitiz Invitational and ICTSI Riviera Classic with Dumandan.
The power-hitting Dumandan, seeking an end to a long title spell in the circuit sponsored by ICTSI, anchored his strong start in the P2 million event on a fiery windup at Mt. Malipunyo, a four-under 32 he spiked with an eagle on the par-5 17th.
“I feel confident, especially with my driving. I can now control my shots and my putting has been very steady,” said Dumandan, who tied for ninth at Riviera.
He actually set his bid with two birdies in the first four holes but stumbled with a bogey on the seventh before birdying Nos. 10 and 14 then knocked a rescue shot from 260 yards to pin-length high for eagle on the 17th and a 67.
Jay Bayron matched that fiveunder card minutes later with the hottest player on the circuit, organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., also coming back from a 36 start at the back with five birdies, including backto-back feats from No. 1, another pair from close ranges on Nos. 5 and 7 before closing out with another on the ninth.
Rufino Bayron, also out to snap a two-year title drought, likewise put himself in early contention with a scorching windup of four birdies in the last seven holes, including three straight from No. 12, as the 2014 ICTSI Orchard Championship ADT winner carded 68 to stay within one off the joint leaders.