DASMARIÑAS, Cavite—Rufino Bayron closed out with a two-under-par 70 yesterday and ended years of heartache by storming to a four-shot victory over Japan’s Tomokazu Yoshinaga in the ICTSI Orchard Championship at Palmer layout here.
Bayron eagled the par-5 14th and then punctuated his first victory as a pro with a birdie on the 72nd hole for a 16-under-262 total over the well-manicured layout that was at the mercy of the talented field all week.
“Most of all, I thank the Lord for this,” said Bayron, who has toiled behind the shadow of his more successful brother Jay. He gave Bayron one of his biggest heartaches when he erased an eight-stroke deficit to win the Splendido leg last in Tagaytay March.
The win was worth $10,500 (about P459,000) for Bayron, who triumphed in the local tour in 2008 by winning the Valley leg as an amateur. More importantly, it showed he now knew how to finish off tournaments.
“It has been a tough time for me with all those near misses,” Bayron continued in Filipino, referring to three playoff losses and that final round collapse in Tagaytay.
He also was in a three-man playoff—together with Jay—that lost to Frankie Miñoza in The Country Club Invitational two years ago.
Yoshinaga did himself in with a front side 39 before rallying in the final nine with four birdies for a 71 and 266, nipping countryman Masaru Takahashi (68) and Aussie RJ Caracella(67) by two for runner-up honors.
American Brett Munson fired a 70 and finished tied with four locals, among them Cassius Casas and Jonel Ababa, at 279. Casas fired a 67 and Ababa a 69.
Ferdie Aunzo, the former Philippine team spearhead who started the day just four shots behind Bayron, lost further ground after a 72 and settled for a tie for 10th spot at 280 with Clyde Mondilla, who shot a 68.
Bayron said that he played it cautious in the front nine, playing with little pressure, though, as Yoshinaga and the other pursuers simply didn’t threaten his overnight three-stroke lead.
The other backers of the event, serving as the seventh leg of the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour, were Nike Golf, Pacsports Phils. Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Mizuno, Empire Golf, Footjoy, Titleist, Custom Clubmakers, Sharp and KZG with ABS-CBN Sports & Action, Balls and Inquirer Golf as media partners.