Korean surges past Bayron

CALATAGAN, Batangas , Philippines – Korean amateur Hwang Kang Yul fought back with a closing 35 at the front to save a three-over 75 in harsh condition then watched Rufino Bayron choke at the finish to grab a one-stroke lead in rain-halted second round of the P1 million ICTSI Calatagan Challenge here yesterday.

Hwang, who shot a flawless 67 to tie Bayron Wednesday, made four bogeys in a birdie-less stint at the back for a 40 in the morning session. But the 19-year-old Riviera bet recovered with a slew of pars and a birdie on the sixth for that 75 and threatened to upstage the local pro field with a 142.

Heavy mid-morning rains, spawned by Typhoon Ofel, forced the organizing Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. to suspend play for over an hour and Bayron and the rest of the afternoon group struggled in tough, soggy condition at resumption, sending the scores soaring.

But Bayron had looked forward to a solid finish after birdying the par-5 13th for the second straight day that checked a bogey-riddled 39 at the front. But he bogeyed the last two holes and wound up with a 76 to drop to second at 143.

Mhark Fernando shot the day’s lone under par card of 71 as he joined Bayron in second, well within sight of the top P200,000 purse heading to the final 18 holes of the tournament.