INQUIRER Sports

ANTIPOLO CITY, Philippines — Jay Bayron drained a birdie on the 17th hole Friday to win the Forest Hills leg of the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour by one stroke over Marvin Dumandan here.

The former amateur hotshot finished with a 1-under-par 70 and joined the elite roster of winners in this fledging tour with a 54-hole tally of 215. He picked up the first prize check of P200,000.

Dumandan, whose victory in the Eagle Ridge leg came at the expense of Bayron, settled for a level 71 and a 216 total after flubbing birdie putts in his last two holes. He still went home with P120,000.

First-round leader Gene Bondoc fired a 72 for 217 that rewarded him with third place—the best finish of his fledgling pro career.

The birdie on the penultimate hole by Bayron broke a tie for the lead, which Dumandan forged with a birdie on the par-5 16th as the duo staged a shootout for the title after second-round leader Ferdie Aunzo collapsed.

Aunzo, who had a one-stroke lead over five players at the start of the day, limped home with a 77 and finished in a tie for ninth spot with former Philippine Open champion Robert Pactolerin.

With earlier rounds of 72 and 70, Aunzo threatened to pull away after a par-birdie-par-birdie start boosted his lead to four strokes.

But a triple bogey 8 on the sixth and another dropped shot on the eighth left Aunzo with a 37 coming out against the 34 of Bayron, who suddenly found himself on top.

Aunzo completely faded out of the title picture with a double bogey on the 12th.

Elmer Salvador, the Sherwood leg winner, fired a 73 and wound up joint fourth with unheralded Ramil Bisera, who had a 72 for 219.

Miguel Tabuena, the 15-year-old junior ace, fired a 79 and tied for 19th.

Bayron thus joined Zarate, Dumandan, Frankie Miñoza (Pueblo de Oro), Juvic Pagunsan (Apo), Salvador, amateur Mhark Fernando (Riviera) and Aunzo in the roster of winners heading into the last two rounds at Valley Golf and Canlubang.