RUFINO Bayron knocked down seven birdies in a splendid five-under-par 66 yesterday and wrested a four-stroke lead from Micah Shin and Clyde Mondilla halfway through the ICTSI Riviera Classic at the complex’s Langer layout in Silang, Cavite.
Two of those birdies came in the final four holes for the 35-year-old Rufino, who now has a 36-hole 133 aggregate over the ravine-laden, wind-swept layout.
Shin, the first round leader, slumped to a 72, while Mondilla, not showing signs of the back injury that forced him to withdraw after two rounds of the Aboitiz Invitational last week, carved out a 68 to catch the American-Korean at 137.
American Nicolas Paez, who bungled a one-stroke lead in the final round of the Aboitiz at Wack Wack East, fired a 68 and title-favorite Jay Bayron shot a 69 to climb into a tie at 140 with rookie Jobim Carlos, who mixed four birdies with a double bogey and two bogeys for a 71.
Unheralded teaching pro Rico Depilo shot a 70 and was the only one at level 142.
Antonio Lascuña, the four-time winner this season, shot a 71 but drifted farther from the pace with a 145, 12 shots behind Rufino Bayron with only two rounds left.
A group that counts former Philippine Open champion Artemio Murakami and Charles Hong has 146s and remained mathematically in the title hunt, though they would need to go truly low today to entertain thoughts of a comeback.