Bayron guns for ADT record at Aboitiz Invitational

MANILA, Philippines - Jay Bayron guns for a record-equaling number of victories on the Asian Development Tour as he joins the title hunt in the $100,000 Aboitiz Invitational which gets going Wednesday (Aug. 27) at Riviera’s Couples Course in Silang, Cavite.

Bayron, the 2012 ADT Order of Merit winner who ruled the inaugural staging of the event sponsored by Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc. in 2011 in Cebu, has racked up three titles on the farm circuit of the Asian Tour with another victory this week matching the record held by current ADT No. 1 Chan Shih-chang of Taiwan.

“I always try my best to win in any tournament I play in. I hope I’ll have a good week and be able to give myself a chance at winning the title again,” said Bayron, also out to snap a five-month title spell after winning the kickoff leg of this year’s ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour at Splendido last March.

“It’s been a long while and I hope I can put it all together this week to gain another crack at the crown,” added Bayron, also the PGT OOM winner in 2010.

But the ace Filipino shotmaker will face strong challenges from the talent-laden international field, which includes the country’s aces and a slew of veteran ADT campaigners, led by American Brett Munson, Thais Wisut Artjanawat, Sattaya Supupramai, Japanese Mitsuhiko Hashizume, Englishman Grant Jackson and Ireland’s Niall Turner along with Canadian Lindsay Renolds, Aussie Darren Tan and Swede Malcolm Kokocinksi.

One thing going for Bayron is that Chan will not be seeing action in the 72-hole championship backed by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. since has already secured playing rights for the rest of the 2014 Asian Tour season following his three-leg win on the ADT this year.

Meanwhile, Bayron faltered with a 75 and ended up in joint 31st at 286, 15 strokes behind James Byrne of Scotland, who sizzled with a 64 and ruled the Ciputra Golfpreneur Tournament at the Damai Indah Golf, BSD course in Jakarta yesterday.

Back to Aboitiz Invitational, the leading pros get the chance to test the par-72 layout in tomorrow’s (Tuesday) pro-am tournament where they will team up with their respective amateur partners and guests from the event’s chief backers, including Nike Golf, Pacsports Phils. Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Mizuno, Empire Golf, Footjoy, Titleist, Custom Clubmakers, Sharp and KZG and the Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

Other local favorites vying in the event are reigning back-to-back champion Elmer Salvador, ICTSI PGT OOM winner Tony Lascuna, three-time Asian Tour titlist Angelo Que, young gun Miguel Tabuena, veteran Cassius Casas, recent Asean PGA Tour leg winner Jhonnel Ababa, Rufino Bayron, Michael Bibat, Marvin Dumandan, Mars Pucay, Gerald Rosales and the eminent Frankie Miñoza.

Meanwhile, starting this season, the ADT will reward the top five players on the final Order of Merit with playing rights for the 2015 Asian Tour season.