Bayron vies to nail 2nd OOM plum

MANILA, Philippines - Jay Bayron goes for the first of two victories he needs to retain the Order of Merit crown on the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour as he joins the hunt in the P1 million ICTSI Calatagan Challenge which reels off tomorrow at Calatagan Golf and Country Club in Batangas.

With OOM frontrunner Juvic Pagunsan out for the rest of the season and second-running Elmer Salvador opting to compete in Malaysia this week, Bayron gets the chance to snatch the coveted OOM plum with a strong finish in the last three legs of the 16-leg circuit.

“It can be done but it will be tough,” said Bayron, who did the trick last year when he won the circuit’s final leg at ICTSI Canlubang Invitational to nip Pagunsan by P85,000 in total earnings for the OOM crown.

Boosted by his half-a-million prize in his successful title-retention bid at Aboitiz Invitational in Cebu last month, Bayron now has winnings of P949,494 to move up to No. 3 behind Pagunsan’s P1,474,604 and Salvador’s P1,012,019.

But it will take him no less than two victories and a runner-up finish in the last three legs to frustrate Pagunsan for the second straight time. From Calatagan, the Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.-organized circuit will go to Cangolf on Nov. 9-11 before winding up at Wack Wack on Nov. 23-25.

Meanwhile, Bayron leads the other top pros in today’s (Tuesday) traditional pro-am tournament which features amateur players who make up the roster of the tournament’s chief backers, including MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Unilab, Titleist, Sharp, Custom Clubmakers, Mizuno, PinoyGolfer.com, Inquirer Golf, A Round of Golf, Studio 23, Balls, and Dynamic Sports.

Fourth running Tony Lascuna (P786,219) is also in the 69-player starting field but the ace Davaoeño shotmaker, still in search of his first win on the tour, remains too far behind Pagunsan, Salvador and Bayron to contend for the OOM crown.

Others vying for top honors in the 54-hole tournament, sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc., are Artemio Murakami, Jhonnel Ababa, Mhark Fernando, Anthony Fernando, Antonio Asistio II, Ferdie Aunzo, Jerson Balasabas, Rufino Bayron, Dante Becierra, Jun Bernis, Michael Bibat, Gene Bondoc, Cassius Casas, Marvin Dumandan, Rey Pagunsan, Robert Pactolerin, Gerald Rosales, Richard Sinfuego, Peter Villaber, Erwin Vinluan and Danny Zarate.