Jay Bayron. FILE PHOTO
TAGAYTAY—Elmer Salvador and Jay Bayron, 1-2 finishers in the Philippine Golf Tour leg here last year, hope to cash in on early tee times in the ICTSI Splendido Classic blasting off Thursday at Taal Splendido Golf Club.
Salvador will tee of at 7:20 a.m. while Bayron, who wound up one stroke short of forging a playoff last year, will come out 20 minutes earlier, when the wind is still calm.
Playing in the company of Gerald Rosales and Thai Natchanon Varapornkittirat, Salvador is wary of the strong field.
“It’s a different field and there’s a number of strong foreign players,” said Salvador. “But if I can score low in the first two days and stay in contention in the final round, I think I have a chance.”
Bayron, a two-time victor in the 2016 PGT but still winless after nine legs this year, will have compatriot Ferdie Aunzo and American Jacob Fleck as flightmates.
Thais Pasavee Lertvelai and Wisut Artjanawat, Americans John Michael O’Toole and Seungjae Maeng, Korean-American Micah Shin, and others are also tipped to contend against the local pros that include Tony Lascuña, the local circuit’s reigning Order of Merit king. —ROY LUARCA