JAY Bayron gunned down seven birdies on the way to a four-under-par 66 yesterday to wrest a one-stroke lead over Micah Shin of the United States and Dutchman Guido Van Der Valk halfway through the ICTSI Bacolod Golf Challenge in Murcia town in Binitin.
Bayron shot four of those birdies in a string in the middle half of his front nine and had three more at the back that cushioned a bogey-bogey finish for a 133 aggregate at the tight layout.
Shin, the first day leader, carded a 69, while Van Der Valk, the runner-up to Elmer Salvador in the 2009 Philippine Open at Malarayat in Lipa City, fired a day-best 65 despite bogeying the par-3 18th, the only blemish in a 32-33 effort.
“I just made poor decisions, hence those bogeys,” said Bayron, also a former PH Open runner-up to American Berry Henson, referring to the 17th and 18th holes.
Shin slowed down after opening up with a 65 on Wednesday, making just two birdies before dropping a shot on No. 16 to relinquish the lead to the versatile Bayron.
“I struggled with my short game and missed a couple of short putts,” said Shin, who honed his game at Apo Golf in Davao.
Antonio Lascuña got into the mix after his version of a 66 to be just three shots off Bayron, while Cassius Casas, who is preparing to enter the Senior Tour in Japan in a couple of weeks, fired a 67 to be another stroke behind.
Lascuña is shooting to win a fourth title this year and hasn’t stopped playing tournament golf for the past month here and abroad.
Veterans Orlan Sumcad and Benjie Magada were tied at 138 like obscure Johvani Abano after rounds of 69 and 67, respectively. Abano carded a 69.
Musong R. Castillo