Bayron survives test, wins again

CEBU CITY—His ability to close out tournaments becoming suspect after a deflating string of runner-up finishes, Jay Bayron survived a supreme test of character and became a winner again.

 

Bayron lost a three-stroke overnight lead on the first four holes but regrouped well enough to shoot a two-under-par 70 Friday and rule the Aboitiz Invitational by two shots over the irrepressible Juvic Pagunsan at the exclusive Cebu Country Club course here.

 

The 31-year-old Bayron rebounded from a wet double-bogey 5 on No. 5 by birdieing two of his last three holes on the front nine and gunning down two more birds against a bogey the rest of the way for an 11-under 205 total, worth P200,000.

 

Pagunsan made a bold charge and crept within one shot several times after starting the day three behind. But a bogey on the par-3 13th hole did him in as his 69 gave him a 207 tally, one ahead of Marvin Dumandan, who announced his return to form with a 70.

 

Dumandan, playing in the flight ahead, actually opened up with four straight birdies to take a two-shot lead going to hole No. 5 after Bayron tripped on that double bogey.

 

But the reigning Sherwood Hills champ, three down to Bayron and Dutchman Guido Van Der Valk overnight, lost steam on the par-3 fifth when his tee shot took a wicked bounce back into the lagoon for a double bogey.

 

“Finally, a victory,” said Bayron, who failed to win in five previous occasions he had at least a share of the lead this year. “I hope this victory will give me the confidence to win again.”

 

Dumandan bounced back with a birdie on No. 6, but could only pick up just one more shot the rest of the way against two bogeys.

 

“Even though I did not win, I am pleased with the way I played,” Dumandan said.

 

Jun Bernis broke par for the third straight day, closing out with a 71 for a fourth-best 209, even as Angelo Que, Artemio Murakami and the revered Frankie Miñoza tied for fifth at 210 after rounds of 70, 71 and 70, respectively.

 

Bayron took the lead to stay on No. 9 where he drained a 20-footer for birdie, before watching Van Der Valk and Pagunsan narrowly miss birdie putts from less than 10 feet.

 

Van Der Valk, the runner-up to Elmer Salvador in last year’s Philippine Open, ballooned to a 77 after shooting 40 in the final nine of a round which he said “progressively got worse.” He wound up with a 212 total.

 

Jessie Balasabas, a member of the ICTSI-Canlubang stable, broke par for the first time in three days, his 70 giving him a 215 for the low amateur title. He beat local boy Bayani Garcia by a shot after Garcia signed for a 74.

 

The final scores:
205—J. Bayron 66-69-70; 207—J. Pagunsan 70-68-69; 208—M. Dumandan 68-70-70; 209—J. Bernis 67-71-71; 210—A. Que 70-70-70, F. Minoza 69-71-70, A. Murakami 68-71-71; 212—G. Van Der Valk (Ned) 69-66-77; 213—R. Bayron 74-70-69, F. Aunzo 71-69-73; 214—A. Lascuna 70-72-72, R. Pagunsan 69-72-73; 215—J. Balasabas (Am) 73-72-70, E. Quiachon 74-70-71, E. Salvador 73-71-71. G. Bondoc 72-72-71, A. Engino 69-72-74; 216—E. Bagtas 71-72-73, Rob. Pactolerin 70-71-75; 217—B. Garcia (Am) 72-71-74, G. Rosales 71-71-75; 218—J. Abdon (Am) 75-71-72, Ron Pactolerin 71-75-72, P. Villaber (Am) 75-70-73, M. Dizon 75-69-74; 219—D. Sanchez 74-73-72, E. Ababa 74-73-72, A. Asistio 74-71-74; 220—R. Ardimer 78-70-72, Z. Salvador 72-75-73, J. Limjap (Am) 73-73-74, C. Mondilla (Am) 74-71-75, R. Marabe 73-70-77, M. Fernando (Am) 70-72-78.