In-form Bayron leads chase for richest purse

MANILA, Philippines - Jay Bayron will be the marked man but a slew of others will be in hot pursuit of the richest purse ever staked in the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour when the ICTSI Orchard Golf Championship unfolds beginning today at the Orchard’s Palmer Course in Dasmarinas, Cavite.

Bayron is coming off a runner-up finish in last Sunday’s ICTSI Philippine Open, losing by one to American Berry Henson but gaining a lot of confidence heading into the P2.5 million tournament serving as the third leg of this year’s local circuit.

“I feel good and confident of my chances at Orchard. But the field is strong and anybody can win,” said Bayron in Filipino after his failed bid at the country’s premier and Asia’s oldest championship at Wack Wack East.

With the likes of Juvic Pagunsan, Angelo Que, Frankie Miñoza, Artemio Murakami and teenage sensation Miguel Tabuena also in the starting 111-player roster, the battle for the top P450,000 purse in the 54-hole tournament will indeed be wide open.

Pagunsan, Que and Miñoza, for one, will be out to atone for their sub-par performances at the Phl Open and Murakami and Tabuena, and a host of others, raring to redeem themselves from missed cut stints in the event.

That includes Marvin Dumandan, the best Filipino performer in the first round at Wack Wack but wound up dead last at 65 among the survivors.

“I will try to make up for that,” said Dumandan, winner of three legs last year on the ICTSI-PGT circuit, in Filipino. “I just lost my rhythm and concentration in the last two days (at the Open).”’

Pagunsan, meanwhile, served notice of his title bid as he powered his team composed of Daudo Go, Mac Hermoso and Arnold Chung to victory in the traditional pro-am tournament with a 53 yesterday. Pagunsan also took one of the two pro-am titles in the Phl Open but wound up joint 22nd.

Orlan Sumcad and partners Nestor Sevilla, Ryan Abdon and Francis Yan finished second with 55, nipping the Joel Opaco-led squad of Boom Coscolluela, Jody Aguinaldo and Jung Soo Park in the countback.

Focus will also be on Benjie Magada, who nipped Tony Lascuna in the second playoff hole to capture last year’s crown in the tournament organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Unilab, Titleist, Custom Clubmakers, Mizuno, PinoyGolfer.com, Inquirer Golf, A Round of Golf, Studio 23, Balls, and Dynamic Sports.

Bayron actually figured in a three-hole playoff last year but bowed out on the first hole with Magada outlasting Lascuna on the third to score his breakthrough victory on the revival of the local tour.

The event, which also drew a number of foreign players, including Aussies Matt Docking, Nathan Robinett and Uhno Park, also serves as the richest leg in the four-year circuit with the P2.5 million prize fund more than doubling the regular P1 million purse staked in previous legs.

Bayron drew Davis and Richard Abaring in the 11:50 a.m. flight on No. 1, Pagunsan will play alongside Al Cruz and Lawrence Warne at 11:20 a.m., also on No. 1; Que is bunched with Albin Engino and Park at 11:20 a.m. on No. 10; while Miñoza is grouped with Robert Pactolerin and amateur Zanie Boy Gialon at 7:30 a.m. on No. 1.

Murakami will have Eddie Bagtas and amateur John Kier Abdon as flightmates in the 7:30 a.m. group on No. 10; Dumandan hopes to come out strong from an early tee off at 7:20 a.m. with Neil Catalan and Ross Bain on No. 1; and Tabuena opens his bid in the 7:40 a.m. flight on No. 10 with Carito Villaroman and amateur Miguel Ochoa.