Bayron leads by 1

TRECE MARTIREZ, Cavite— Jay Bayron capped a three-under-par 69 with a birdie on the 18th yesterday to seize a one-stroke lead over Antonio Lascuña after the opening round of the ICTSI-Eagle Ridge Invitational at the Faldo course here.

Bayron had six birdies for the day against three bogeys in his finest start in a tournament this year in the local tour where he last won last year in Cebu.

Lascuña also birdied his last hole, the ninth, but it came after a bogey on the eighth which cost him a share of the lead even as Marvin Dumandan led a three-man group with 71s.

Mark Fernando, the former caddy in Zamboanga, also shot a 71 like Dante Becierra, the former Hong Kong Am winner, who has been winless in his first two years as a professional.

Rookie Charles Hong carded a 72 like Edwin Estrera, the veteran who has been struggling of late even as Mars Pucay and Jonel Ababa led a huge group that scored 73s.

Elmer Salvador, the winner at nearby Sherwood Hills last month, struggled to post a 74 in a 36-38 round marred by bogeys on two par-5s and a double bogey on the 18th hole.

Jun Bernis was also in the mix after a 73.