Bayron still ahead by 1 over Lascuña

JAY Bayron needed an eagle-spiked 5-under-par 67 yesterday to cling to a one-shot lead over a hard-charging Antonio Lascuña after three rounds of the P1.5 million ICTSI Summit Point Classic in Lipa City.

The soft-spoken Bayron, seeking to snap a two-year winless spell, birdied the 18th for a 33-34 card and a 54-hole 199 aggregate heading into today’s final 18 holes.

Lascuña, the reigning three-time Order of Merit champion who started the day five strokes off Bayron, made a bold move by firing a 63 to seize solo second even as Jonel Ababa also shot a 67 to remain three shots off the pace.

Three others were within six strokes  with Rufino Bayron, Jay’s younger brother, assembling a 66 for 204 in a tie with  Elmer Salvador, who lost a lot of ground despite shooting a 70.

Korean Park Jun-hyeok, who was just two shots behind after 36 holes on Wednesday, slowed down with a 71 for  205.

Long-hitting veteran Orlan Sumcad was the only player in the top 10 who failed to crack par in the third round, his 72 leaving him at 207, one shot ahead of Miguel Tabuena and former Philippine Open champion Cassius Casas, who returned 70s.

Jay Bayron picked up three shots in his first three holes counting his eagle 3 on No. 3 before polishing off his round with a birdie on the 18th which kept Lascuña at bay.

“I think something like a 66 (in today’s final round) would be enough to win,” Bayron, a multiple leg winner on the Asian Development Tour, said in Filipino.

Lascuña sizzled on the front side with a 30 after six gunning down birdies and was working on a 10-under card after 16 holes only to stumble with his only bogey of the round on the par-3 17th after hitting a 5-iron tee shot on the 195-yard hole past the flag and into the fringe.

“I could have elected to putt from there (fringe) and assured my par,” Lascuña rued in Filipino.

Bayron also dropped his only shot on the same hole.

Lascuña’s 63 stood as the best round of the week and set him up for a final flight pairing with Bayron which he relished as he noted that Jay has never beaten him in a head-to-head clash for a title in the past.  Musong R. Castillo