JAY BAYRON shoots for a third straight championship—a first in his decorated career—starting today when the ICTSI Mount Malarayat Classic tees off at the complex’s composite layout in Lipa City.
The 37-year-old Bayron, President Duterte’s caddy at Apo Golf in Davao in the 1990s, has basically the same field he needs to conquer to add this tournament to the Aboitiz Invitational and Riviera Classic crowns he won the last three weeks.
Malarayat, though, will be a different test compared to Wack Wack East and the Langer layouts, with its small, sleek greens and tight fairways.
“I feel confident and would just play according to my strengths,” Bayron said after playing in yesterday’s traditional Pro-Am.
Standing in the way are the usual faces who challenged him hard at the East and Langer layouts, Antonio Lascuña and Clyde Mondilla, who are ranked first and third and are sandwiching him in the Order of Merit derby.
Lascuña believes that the Malarayat crown will go to whoever can putt the best, since the course is not really that long and puts a lot of premium on approaches for the best spots on the greens.
“There wouldn’t be a problem [among the favorites] as far as ball striking is concerned,” Lascuña, who plays out of Southwoods, said in Filipino. “It will all boil down to whoever putts best.”
Mondilla, who has two victories this season, took a rest yesterday to be able to go full steam ahead in the 72-hole championship as he has the ability to overpower the course with his length off the tee.
A former three-time Order of Merit winner, Lascuña is the only man to have won three straight titles, doing it this season in the Eagle Ridge, Forest Hills and Bacolod stops.