Bayron solid with 67, hikes lead to 2

LIPA, Batangas, Philippines – Jay Bayron bucked the heat and Elmer Salvador’s sizzling feat as he hiked his lead to two with a bogey-free 67 midway through the P1.5 million ICTSI Summit Point Classic at the Summit Point Golf and Country Club here.

Though he remained on top and closer to his quest for a first championship in almost two years, Bayron rued a couple of missed birdie chances at the front, the backside of his game yesterday.

“I could’ve shot a lot better if not for my missed putts,” said Bayron, referring to his miscues on the last two par-5s on Nos. 5 and 9 inside seven feet.

After a lead-grabbing 65 Tuesday, Bayron threatened to pull away on a hot, humid day, firing a second straight 32 at the back. But after a tap-in birdie on No. 3 for a five-under card, the former Order of Merit champion settled for a run of pars for that 67.

Still, his 36-hole haul of 12-under 132 kept him two shots clear of Salvador, who bettered Bayron’s solid round with seven birdies for a 65 and a 134, the same output put in by Korean Park Jun Hyeok, who firmed up his own breakthrough bid in the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. with a second straight 67.

Four shots off Bayron at the start of the day, Salvador birdied two of the first three holes at the back, strung up three straight from No. 15 and closed out with back-to-back birdies from No. 7.

“Jay is also playing solid so I think I need to shoot lower than what I did today (yesterday) to catch up,” said the soft-spoken Salvador, looking for a follow-up to his ICTSI Riviera Classic romp last June.

Park, in joint fourth in the first round, hovered with the leaders with birdies on Nos. 4, 5 and 9 then joined Salvador at second with another back-to-back birdies from No.14.

Jhonnel Ababa and Orlan Sumcad fired identical 68s and remained tied at 135 while Tony Lascuña, bidding not only for a third crown in the ICTSI-sponsored tour but also the top ranking in the money list, also shot a bogey-free round, a 68 to put him at solo sixth at 137 but five shots off Bayron.

Jay’s brother Rufino, winner of the Orchard Championship of the Asian Development Tour last year, slowed down with a 70 after a 68 to drop to joint seventh at 138 with Cassius Casas, who shot a 68, and Miguel Tabuena, Lascuña’s chief rival for the No. 1 OOM spot, who fought back with a 67 after a 71.

Arnold Villacencio, who nipped Tabuena in a playoff to end a long 27-year title spell, rallied with four birdies in the last five holes to shoot a 66 and join the six-under par scorers in the event backed by Custom Clubmakers, Titleist, NikeGolf, Pacsports, Callaway, Srixon, KZG, Sharp and FootJoy.

Rico Depilo and Keanu Jahns, who stalked Jay Bayron at the top with opening 66s, fumbled with identical 73s and slipped to joint 11th with Clyde Mondilla, who carded a 69, for a 139, seven shots off the pace.

Twenty-nine others made the cut pegged at 146 with Albin Engino rallying with a 71 to tie Koreans Anthony Kim (72) and Woo Seong Bin (72), Tonlits Asistio (74), Kevin Tayao (74), Miguel Ochoa (74), Randy Garalde (75), Jan Tambogon (75) and Jet Mathay (75).

Charles Hong, who upstaged a stellar field to rule the Luisita Championship last May, hobbled with a 77 and failed to advance at 150.