Bayron paces TPC with a 67

RUFINO Bayron fired a five-under-par 67 despite closing with a double bogey yesterday to take a one-stroke lead over journeyman Rolando Marabe after the opening round of the P3.5-million ICTSI Tournament Players’ Championship at Southlinks in Las Piñas.

A fat 7 on No. 18 off a wild drive and a poor second shot failed to topple Bayron at the top as he carved out nines of 34-33 in the 72-hole championship that stakes P650,000 to the champion.

Marabe, a teaching pro at Villamor who led all Filipino scorers after the first round of the Philippine Open last May at Wack Wack East, went bogey-free in carving out a 68 at the relatively short layout.

Clyde Mondilla, fresh off a breakthrough win at Canlubang last month, shot a 69 and lay in a four-man group that also included James Ryan Lam (33-36), Jik-Jik Abdon (34-35) and the obscure teaching pro Rico Depilo (35-34).

Mark Fernando and Edward Reyes lay another shot farther back with 70s.

Jun Rates rallied from a front-nine 39 with a 32 coming in and caught Dutchman Guido Van Der Valk at 71 to round out the Top 10.

“I’m OK with my score despite my [double bogey] finish,” Bayron said in Filipino. “This course really tests you.”

This is the best start for Marabe in any tournament since surprising the Asian Tour field with an opening 69 in the PH Open. He eventually finished dead last in the tournament.

“It was just fairways and greens for me out there today,” said Marabe, who birdied all but one of the four par-3s and saved par on the two times he missed the green in regulation.

The 72-hole championship, which pulls the curtains down on the pro tour season, is being backed by Nike Golf, Pacsports Phils. Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Mizuno, Empire Golf, Footjoy, Titleist, Custom Clubmakers, Sharp, KZG and Rudy Project.