Bayron sits on top with Dumandan
JAY BAYRON and Marvin Dumandan finished strong yesterday and carved out five-under-par 67s for a one-shot lead over Rufino Bayron after the opening round of the P2 million ICTSI Mount Malarayat Classic in Lipa City.
Jay Bayron drained eight birdies against a double bogey and a bogey, while Dumandan had an eagle 3 on No. 7 to highlight a 35-32 effort and seal one of his finest starts in quite a long while.
Rufino Bayron, meanwhile, smoked the back nine with four of his five birdies for a 68, two shots ahead of a big group that turned in 70s counting the long-hitting Clyde Mondilla and fancied rookie Jobim Carlos.
Obscure Efren Robles shot a 71 to tie Joenard Rates, Antonio Lascuna and Australian Peter Stojanovski.
Dutchman Guido Van Der Valk was the best-placed foreigner after a 70 left him in Mondilla’s group that also had the veteran Benjie Magada, Mars Pucay and Orlan Sumcad.
Jay Bayron, shooting to win a third straight championships following triumphs in the Aboitiz Invitational and at the Riviera stop, had five of his birdies at the Lobo nine—his back side trip—for a flawless 31.
He stumbled with a bogey on No. 12 and signed for a double bogey 7 on the 14th before draining birdies on 15 and 16 to rescue a 36 and get his bid going on the right foot.
Dumandan has never had it this good for so long.
Although he finished tied for ninth at Riviera last week, the Davao native hasn’t been in solid title contention in the last two years. But yesterday’s performance could change all that.
“I feel very confident with my game today, being able to control my shots and putting very well,” said Dumandan in Filipino.
