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CANLUBANG—Rufino Bayron produced the day’s best score—a
two-under-par 70—to open up a two-stroke lead over local
favorite Jessie Balasabas and Anthony Fernando midway
through the men’s competition of the 13th DHL-WWWExpress
National Amateur Golf Championships yesterday at the
Canlubang Golf and Country Club.
Bayron
bucked a bogey-par-bogey start at the Cangolf’s
wind-raked North course when he recovered with birdies
on the fifth, seventh and ninth holes. He also missed an
eagle try on the eighth. He made three more birdies at
the back nine to offset his bogeys on Nos. 10 and 18
because of terrible putting.
LYDIA JAYA of Indonesia is
looking to extend her brilliant game in the three-round
ladies competition.
“Maganda
na ang mga tee at iron shots ko. Sa putting
lagi nagkakatalo,” Bayron said.
The
26-year-old original product of the National Caddies
Foundation program and now an ICTSI team member holds a
36-hole aggregate of five-under 139 to lead Balasabas
and Fernando by two, a spread which he says is “not very
safe.”
“Napakaliit
lang ng lamang ko kina Balasabas at Fernando.
Hindi ko pa masabi kung akin na ito dahil maraming
puwedeng humabol sa akin,” said Bayron, the younger
brother of Jay Bayron who recently turned professional.
Rufino Bayron needs to work
on his putts if he wants to stave off a relentless
opposition.
--ROMY FLORANTE
Bayron
is trudging dangerous waters with Fernando, a member of
the Philippine team that won the silver medal in team
play in the Thailand 24th Southeast Asian Games, and
Balasbas lurking behind.
Balasabas, a regular Cangolf player who is very familiar
with the 6,872-yard, Robert Trent Jones Jr.-designed
North layout, started the back nine with an even 36 then
finished the day with four birdies against three bogeys
for a 71 and 141.
Fernando
had an explosive front nine with four birdies. He
dropped only one shot at the 400-yard par-four No. 3.
However, he failed to match that score in the last nine
holes leaving him tied with Balasabas for second place.
Mark
Fernando, another Cangolf habitué, matched his first-day
score of 71 and was alone at third spot for 142, three
shots adrift of Bayron.
Like
Bayron, though, Fernando wasn’t consistent with his
putting. In fact, he had three-putts on the 12th and
18th.
“Maraming
nasayang na birdie. Walang magandang resulta sa
putting,” said Fernando, who also saw action in the SEA
Games, as he headed to the practice-putting greens.
Peter
Villaber (71) and Mario Labajo (73) were at joint fourth
with 144s. Both also have a shot at the title in the
event conducted by the National Golf Association of the
Philippines (NGAP) and sponsored by DHL and WWWExpress.
On the
distaff side, Indonesian Lydia Ivana Jaya and Chihiro
Ikeda picked up from where they left off in their duel
in the recent Philippine Ladies Amateur Open where they
finished one-two at the start of the 54-hole competition
for ladies.
Jaya,
23, turned in a 73 to post a one stroke lead over Ikeda,
reigning national amateur open champ Anya Tanpinco,
Sunshine Baraquiel and Korean Jung Hwa Lee.
Crystal
Faith Superal, Sarah Jane Ababa and Ainil Johani Abu
Bakar of Malaysia each had a four-over 76. Another
Malaysian, Amanda Chin, was a shot back at 77 while
Beverly Mendoza and Carmelette Villaroman had 78 apiece
to complete the top 10. |
