Bayron, Villaroman cruise to easy wins

STA. ROSA, Laguna — Experience prevailed over youth as Jay Bayron and Carmelette Villaroman overwhelmed teeners Tonton Asistio and Dottie Ardina, respectively, to crown themselves the new national amateur champions at the close of the 2006 Philippine Amateur Golf Championships at The Country Club here yesterday.

Bayron finally nailed down the big one, winning the men’s title with an emphatic 7 & 6 victory over Asistio yesterday while Villaroman defeated Ardina, 4 & 3, to cop the ladies diadem.

Bayron, 27, took the first two holes and bucked Asistio’s birdie binge at the backside for a 2-up lead in the morning match of their scheduled 36-hole duel. The Asian Games veteran then thwarted Asistio’s bid for comeback in the afternoon with a steady game to clinch the win.

Bayron dominated the top seeded Asistio with birdies on Nos. 4, 8 and 10 and a gutsy par on No. 9 on their second trip to go 6-up. He parred No. 12 then watched Asistio drop another stroke and the match.

"Yes, this is my biggest win and it’s nice to finally make it this time," said Bayron in Filipino. He lost to Boyet Zaragoza in the semis of the 2004 edition of this annual championship sponsored by the International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI).

Villaroman also proved that she remained a force to reckon with at age 29, defeating the most successful player in the ladies side this year to bag the national crown 13 years after she broke into national consciousness with a stirring victory in the RP Ladies Open.

Stamping her class early, Villaroman sizzled in the morning match as she fired a two-under card in stroke play to dominate Ardina, 5-up. She was never seriously threatened in the afternoon duel as Ardina struggled with her short game, enabling the comebacking Villaroman to coast to victory.

Bayron’s win proved more impressive.

After taking the first two holes, Bayron stayed in command all throughout, matching the 16-year-old Asistio’s five birdies and a bogey at the back with four birdies of his own to keep a two-hole lead. He went 3-up after 22 holes then won Nos. 8, 9 and 10 to go 6-up and virtually wrap up the marathon contest.

NGAP president and DOTC Secretary Leandro Mendoza and ICTSI chairman Ricky Razon awarded the trophies and gift certificates to the winners during the rites.

On his way to the finals, the second seeded Bayron, runner-up in the 2004 Hong Kong Amateur Open, bundled out Asian Games teammate Gene Bondoc, 4 & 3, downed Malaysian Edmund Au after 20 holes, outlasted Marvin Dumandan, 2 & 1, then edged Mark Fernando, 1-up, in the semis of this event conducted by the National Golf Association of the Phils. (NGAP).

For Villaroman, it was some kind of a vindication for a player who was among the top jungolfers in the world over a decade ago until motherhood got in the way and stymied her career.

But Villaroman persevered and worked her way back to the top, finishing fourth in the elims then defeating Paulina Sotto, 2-up, at the start of the match play. She held off Asian Gamer Anya Tanpinco after 22 holes in the quarters and downed Bambee dela Paz, 4 & 3, in the semis.

Against Ardina, she took control early, winning three of the first six holes, then hung tough with clutch pars in the afternoon match before pouncing on Ardina’s miscues in the last nine holes to prevail.

It could have been a triumphant year for Ardina, who won six international titles, including the Junior World in San Diego and the Indonesia and Hong Kong Opens, but fell short of her bid for the national title.

Still, it was a banner season for the 13-year-old golfing sensation, her defeat expected to toughen her up as she gears up for bigger, tougher tournaments next year.