INQUIRER Sports

TRECE MARTIREZ, CAVITE?Jay Bayron fired a second straight one-under-par 71 in calmer conditions Thursday to grab a one-shot lead over Marvin Dumandan heading into the final round of the ICTSI Sherwood Hills Classic here.

The 30-year-old, sophomore pro lined himself up for a second win after gunning down three birdies against two missed-green bogeys for a 142 total over this Jack Nicklaus-designed gem rendered unforgiving by strong winds in the first round.

Dumandan matched par after shooting four birdies and the same number of bogeys for a 143 total, a stroke ahead of Cassius Casas, Antonio Lascuna and Ferdie Aunzo.

?It?s still anybody?s tournament,? Bayron, who earned his Asian Tour card this year, told the Inquirer in Filipino. ?No lead is safe in a course like this, especially if the winds blow again on the final day.?

Former Philippine Open winner Casas had a roller-coaster round of seven birdies and six bogeys for a 71 that gave him 144 like first-round co-leader Tony Lascuña, who had a 73.

Aunzo, the former RP Am champ who broke through at Royal Northwoods last year, also posted a 71 with a strong back nine highlighted by three birdies on his last six holes.

The second-round cut was set at 157 with Juvic Pagunsan making it to Friday?s play along with defending champion Elmer Salvador.

Pagunsan had a second straight 77 for 154 while Salvador, the reigning RP Open champion and winner of two of his last three starts, recovered from an opening 81 with a 74.

Long-hitting Orlan Sumcad blew into contention with an ace-aided 72 that left him four shots off the pace with a 146 aggregate.

Sumcad scored his fourth career ace on the 192-yard 16th with a KZG 6-iron and a Titleist Pro-V1X No. 3 ball.

Randy Garalde fired a 71 and Ruben Sasutil and Ebarra Quiachon both shot 72s for 147 like Richard Sinfuego, who started the day tied for the lead but fired a second round 76.

Fancied Angelo Que shot himself in the foot with a wet quadruple bogey 8 on No. 18 that resulted in a 76.

The low amateur race also shaped up into a final round shoot-out after Peter Villaber assembled a 74 for 149, just a stroke ahead of Jonel Ababa, who fired a 72 in the event organized by the Philippine Golf Tour and backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Jaguar, Land Rover, Studio 23, Balls TV and Golf Punk.

The scores after 36 holes:
142 ? J. Bayron 71-71; 143 ? M. Dumandan 71-72; 144 ? C. Casas 73-71, T. Lascuna 71-73, F. Aunzo 73-71; 146 ? O. Sumcad 74-72; 147 ? R. Sasutil, 75-72, R. Sinfuego 71-76, R. Garalde 76-71, E. Quiachon 75-72; 148 ? B. Magada 75-73, J. Opaco 76-72; 149 ? E. Saban 76-73, A. Que 73-76, R. Bisera 76-73, J. Rates 75-74, P. Villber (Am) 75-74, A. Murakami 74-75; 150 ? O. Dungca 80-70, J. Ababa (Am) 78-72, C. L?ao 77-73, A. Asistio II 75-75, A. Fernando 75-75, M. Pucay 72-78; 151 ? R. Bayron 78-73, R. Bernis Jr. 76-75, R. Glimada 73-78, R. Depilo 75-76, M. Bibat 71-80; 152 ? Z. Gialon (Am) 75-77; 153 ? Ron. Pactolerin 75-78; 154 ? S. Villaber (Am) 81-73, J. Delariarte 79-75, E. Estrera 78-76, M. Fernando (Am) 78-76, J. Pagunsan 77-77, E. Arcillas 76-78, R. Marabe 77-77; 155 ? E. Salvador 81-74, J. Laput 80-75, R. Pagunsan 79-76, L. Retuerto 78-77, C. Villaroman 76-79; 156 ? E. Vinluan 79-77, M. Tabuena (Am) 79-77, G. Bondoc 76-80; 157 ? R. Malaga 81-76, P. Echavez (Am) 74-83, A. Villacencio 80-77