TRECE MARTIRES, Cavite, Philippines – Elmer Salvador went on a birdie-binge at the back to buck a sputtering windup, setting for a one-under 71 but pulling away by five over Jay Bayron and rookie pro Zanie Boy Gialon midway through the P2.5 million ICTSI Sherwood Hills Classic here yesterday.
Not even a bogey-marred finish at the front (39) at the end of another scorching day at Sherwood could stop Salvador from driving a wedge between him and his pursuers for the top P450,000 purse as his sizzling opening 32 gave him a lead as many as eight in one stretch.
There was no double eagle this time but Salvador, whose rare albatross highlighted his 66 Wednesday, birdied the par-5 15th just the same and hit three more birdies on Nos. 10, 14 and 18 in a flawless backside performance.
“Sumama nu’ng bandang huli (Things turned out bad in the closing holes),” said Salvador, who lost his rhythm at the front, bogeying the first two holes and then dropping another stroke on No. 7 while saving a couple of pars for a 39.
It was just halfway through the 72-hole championship but Salvador’s seven-under 137 aggregate put him way ahead of the pack and well within his target of duplicating his record 12-shot victory over Artemio Murakami and Mars Pucay in last year’s staging of the event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
Bayron holed out with a double-bogey 6 on No. 9 for a 74 but remained in second at 142 in a tie with Gialon, who rebounded with a 34 at the front to card a second 71.
“Mas maganda sana kung malapit ako. Gagalingan ko na lang sa huli para makahabol (It would have been better had I been closer. I’ll just have to do good so I can catch up),” said the 33-year-old Bayron, a former Order of Merit champion.
Veteran Cassius Casas shot the day’s best score of 69 as he jumped from joint 14th to a share of fourth at 143 with ICTSI Splendido winner but flu-stricken Miguel Tabuena, who needed a birdie-birdie windup to fire a 71, and Tony Lascuna, who also had to birdie two of the last six holes at the front to shoot a 71.
“I probably got fatigued because it was really so hot in the first day. I tried to take some rehydration medicines but it didn’t work that’s why I felt bad the whole day,” said the 17-year-old Tabuena.
“If things don’t improve tomorrow (today), I will be forced to pull out,” he added.
Jhonnel Ababa, last year’s top player with three leg victories in the circuit sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc., reeled from three straight bogeys from No. 13 but birdied No. 9 to salvage a 71 and a 144 for a share of seventh with Charles Hong, who also had a 71.
The rest stood too far behind Salvador with Rufino Bayron also firing a 71 for a 145, eight shots off, although anything can still happen in the last 36 holes of the event backed by Sharp, Nike Golf, Callaway, Titleist, Srixon, Custom Clubmakers, Mizuno and Foot Joy.
John Kier Abdon carded a 73 to tie Rufino Bayron and post a two-stroke lead over LJ Go, who matched par 72-147, in the amateur side of the tournament supported by Event Captain, Inc., Omnisource Inti’l. TPGAP and media partners Balls, A Round of Golf, Inquirer Golf, Studio 23, Pinoygolfer.com and Impact.
ICTSI John Hay winner Marvin Dumandan failed to gain ground with a 75 for a 149 and Frankie Miñoza also had a 75 for a 150 while Asian Tour campaigner Artemio Murakami barely made the cut at 155 with a 154 total after a woeful 80.