Bayron shares 12th spot on late birdies

MANILA, Philippines - Jay Bayron fought back with two late birdies to fire a three-under 68 for a share of 12th place, seven strokes behind a hot-starting Anirban Lahiri of India at the start of the Macau Open at the Macau Golf and Country Club in Macau yesterday.

Bayron, who scrambled for four pars to save a 36 at the back where he started, birdied the first two holes, dropped a shot on the third but hit two more birdies on Nos. 6 and 7 to join seven others at three-under in the low scoring start at the $900,000 event.

But the other Filipino bets failed to join the birdie-binge at the par-71 layout with Angelo Que and Tony Lascuña, playoff losers at Selangor and Hong Kong Open, respectively, settled for a 70 along with Elmer Salvador.

Miguel Tabuena, who also lost in sudden death at Yeangder Players Championship, matched par 71 and stood in the projected cut-off line.

Lahiri upstaged the fancied names with an eagle-aided, bogey-free 10-under 61 but could only post a one-shot lead over last week’s Hong Kong Open winner Aussie Scott Hend, who had a 62 while Sam Brazel, also of Australia, shot a 64 to be in third.