RUFINO Bayron drained nine birdies in a seven-under-par 63 Wednesday for a two shot lead over elder brother Jay and four others after the opening round of the ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic at the complex’s tree-lined layout known in the past as Marapara.
Rufino had all two of his bogeys inside the final five holes and settled for a 30-33 card, with Jay being joined in second by Clyde Mondilla, Zannie Boy Gialon, Jun Rates and Dutchman Guido Van Der Valk.
Antonio Lascuna, the hottest man on tour with three straight wins, fired a lukewarm 69 and was in a huge group that included US Open veteran Miguel Tabuena as the field had a heyday playing target golf with 28 players returning sub-par cards.
Another 11 players matched par 70, counting the legendary Frankie Miñoza and resident amateur star JR Tanpinco as the event is looking at one of its highest halfway cuts this year.
Micah Shin, the third man in the playoff won by Lascuna at Binitin in nearby Murcia town last week, shot a 66 like South Korean Park Jun-song, Anthony Fernando, Richard Abaring and Japan Senior Tour-bound Cassius Casas.
Marvin Dumandan, Charles Hong and amateur Chepe Dulay fired 67s with obscure teaching pro Gherome Malaga, a former caddy at Marapara, leading four others with 68s counting rookie Justin Quiban.
Tabuena, the 21-year-old who will carry the PH flag in the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro next month, admitted to being impatient in carding a 35-34 where he had four birdies against three bogeys.
“My game was a bit off, but I played with what I had,” said Tabuena.