Is Bayron ready for SEAG? 

Jay Bayron may have shown his readiness for the 24th Southeast Asian Games qualifying tournament when he put on a world-class act with an emphatic victory in the Bay Regional Championships Monday in Berkeley, California.

Bayron, 28, but aging like vintage wine, produced a scorching five-under-par 65 at the Tilden Park after the first day and never looked back. He would score two more subpar rounds to beat other Filipino bets, including Asian Games bronze medalist Michael Eric Bibat and some of the finest American amateurs today.

“He must have drawn inspiration from [your] story last week,” said Chris Bibat, father of Bayron’s teammate Michael Eric, who was one of the Philippine team’s guardians in the Bay Regional.

The elder Bibat was referring to the BusinessMirror article on July 31 about Bayron being the best Filipino amateur to date, placing 88th in the top 100 of the World Amateur Golf Ranking of the R&A.

“With the way he played at Berkeley and if he continues to compete at the level in the [National Golf Association of the Philippines] qualifier, Bayron could be Team RP’s anchor for golf in the upcoming SEA Games,” he added.

The SEA Games qualifiers will be conducted later this month. 

Bayron in RP Am golf  

AFTER his victory at the Bay Regional Championships, Jay Bayron heads to the 2007 Philippine Amateur Open Golf Championship all pumped-up even as his brother Rufino Bayron would also be aiming for the title.

The RP Am golfest fires off from September 10 to 16 at the Iloilo Golf and Country Club in Iloilo City.

Jay, the older brother, leads a talented pool of amateur stars, while Rufino will be the man at the helm of the Calatagan golfers raring to prove their worth in the six-day tournament, a combination of stroke-play (first two days) and match-play events conducted by the National Golf Association of the Philippines.

Out to foil the Bayron brothers’ bid are Asian Games bronze-medalist Michael Bibat, Miko Alejandro, Anthony Fernando, Ferdie Aunzo, Gene Bondoc, Dante Becierra and Gino Bunyi of the ICTSI team; Paul Echavez, Mark Fernando, Jhonnel Ababa, Joseph Labajo, Mario Labajo, Jun Bernis, Boyet Zaragosa, Rolly Viray, Dave Hernandez, Jose Mari Hechanova, Zanieboy Gialon and Jerson Balasabas of the Calatagan group.

Carmelette Villaroman, sister of former junior world champion Carito, will also have her hands full as she defends her title in the distaff side.  She expects a stiff challenge with Dottie Ardina, Anya Tanpinco, Chihiro Ikeda, Louise Manalo, Sarah Jane Ababa and Bambee de la Paz. 

Arapa-Ap Golf now gone 

WHILE traveling further North after the Camp John Hay stop in Baguio City, Greenside Chip came across a signage that reads “Arapa-Ap Golf” just within the quiet town of San Juan, La Union.

The name Arapa-Ap doesn’t ring a bell. In fact, it is not included in the newest coffee-table books around.

Unfortunately, according to the handful of caretakers inside the facility, the once alternative destination besides the sandy white beaches of La Union from the 1960s up to the early 1980s has long been closed.

“It did not click to the tourists and locals,” one caretaker said. “They would rather enjoy the beach than to play golf, since it was a short nine-hole layout. It had no appeal to the golfers.”

Sofitel Asian Tour partner 

SOFITEL has extended its strong commitment to professional golf tours worldwide, signing a landmark agreement with the Asian Tour to become an official corporate partner and the first official hotel brand for the Tour.

This marks the first time that the Asian Tour, regarded as the fastest-growing Tour in the world, has sealed a partnership with a major international hotel group. The agreement, which takes immediate effect, will accommodate the region’s top golfers in Sofitel-branded properties in Asia through the end of 2008.

“We are proud and honored to welcome Sofitel onboard as our official corporate partner and official hotel of the Asian Tour. This is a significant development for the Asian Tour and it goes hand in hand with our objectives to build a sound commercial platform for the Tour to sustain our growth,” said Asian Tour senior vice president Gerry Norquist.

Sofitel will receive significant exposure via the Asian Tour’s commercial media platforms which include the official web site, www.asiantour.com, Asian Tour Weekly magazine show, which is beamed on ESPN StarSports, and oncourse branding opportunities.

Noli Eala Resigns

BELEAGUERED Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) commissioner Noli Eala yesterday formally announced his resignation as the league’s top honcho.

Off to a once-in-a-lifetime F1 stint

FORMULA racing queen Gabby de la Merced and four equally competitive men from across a broad spectrum emerged as the best from a horde of aspirants in the Marlboro Red Racing School 2007 camp recently, earning a once-in-a-lifetime Formula One stint next month in Italy.

PERHAPS, Manny Pacquiao is indeed taking Marco Antonio Barrera lightly as the Filipino boxing sensation—for the nth time—postponed his trip to the United States, where he is expected to start training for his upcoming bout with the Mexican legend.

Jay Bayron may have shown his readiness for the 24th Southeast Asian Games qualifying tournament when he put on a world-class act with an emphatic victory in the Bay Regional Championships Monday in Berkeley, California.

If there’s one thing the Philippines should look into and take into perspective following a ninth-place finish in the Fiba-Asia Championships, it is the development of tall players who could match up with Asian opponents.