Carlos hangs tough but Bayron moves within 1

JOBIM Carlos fired a roller-coaster one-over-par 73 yesterday but stayed on top of the P3.5-million ICTSI Manila Masters by a shot over Jay Bayron going into today’s final round at Eastridge in Binangonan, Rizal.

The 23-year-old tour rookie had four birdies, a double bogey and three bogeys in a 38-35 card for 211, enough to keep his head above water and stave off the veteran Bayron.

Carlos rued his loss of focus early in the round, where he four-putted the par-3 third hole for double bogey.

“I had a mental lapse,” said Carlos, an advertising graduate from the University of San Francisco. “I’m lucky to still be in the lead. It’s all part of the learning process on tour. I have to stay focused.”

The Philippine Open runner-up to American Berry Henson in 2011, Bayron cracked par for the third straight round, shooting a 70 for 212, a stroke clear of the obscure Rene Menor and Clyde Mondilla, who shot a 73.

Mondilla, the long-hitter from Manolo Fortich in Bukidnon, had a 71 over the bending layout with his idol, the veteran Frankie Minoza, also shooting a 71 to remain in the mix with a 214 tally in this fifth leg of this year’s ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour.

Defending champion Angelo Que didn’t see an end to his struggles, firing a 73 to be nine shots off and virtually out of it like Miguel Tabuena, who also had a 73 to be another shot back.

Bayron had an eagle-aided 35-35 and wheeled into solid contention for the first time in a long while.

Miñoza hasn’t contended this hard for a championship in years. He rallied with three birdies on his final four holes to stay mathematically in the hunt for the top purse put up by the sponsoring International Container Terminal Services, Inc.