Bayron up by 1 stroke

LIPA City, Batangas – 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 tied 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.