MANILA, Philippines — Talk about a confidence boost and Jay Bayron has a lot of it going into his defense of the ICTSI John Hay Championship this week in chilly Baguio.
The unassuming native of Davao will be coming into the Wednesday tournament fresh from scoring the biggest comeback in the local circuit last Saturday, making him the prohibitive pick to repeat at the par-69 layout that puts premium on accuracy more than anything.
Jay overhauled a nine-shot lead in the fourth round to nip younger brother Rufino at Splendido in Tagaytay, gathering all the momentum he needs against a crack field made even tougher by the return of Angelo Que.
Que took last week off and promised to play in the circuit starting at John Hay, an up-and-down course that doesn’t require driver off the tees but more of well-placed shots to be able to attack the pins.
Antonio Lascuña is also gearing up after losing in Tagaytay by two shots, refusing to take a rest by fine-tuning his short game yesterday morning at Manila Southwoods in Carmona, Cavite.
“Basically, we will be having the same greens at John Hay,” Lascuña told the Inquirer in Filipino after spending hours on the sleek practice greens. “I blew several chances in Tagaytay.
I think I’m developing the yips, that’s why I am trying to practice it off.”
All of the tour’s big guns will be in Baguio, counting the ageless Frankie Miñoza, who made the top five in Tagaytay.
Miguel Tabuena, who like Que also had a final-round meltdown at The Country Club during the Solaire Open, is also entered.
He lost to Jay Bayron in a playoff last year after Bayron caught him at the end of regulation with a closing 10-under-par 59.
The tournament will be a P2-million event with the winner picking up P360,000. The traditional pro-am among selected pros and sponsors will usher in the tournament tomorrow.
Among the foreign players, Sweden’s Malcolm Kokocinski shoots for a loftier finish after winding up in a 10th place tie in Tagaytay.