Four set pace after calm first round at TCC  

Jay Bayron —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

A lot from the talented field made the most of the wind not blowing hard on Tuesday as four players led by Jessie Balasabas starting hot and Jay Bayron finishing hard shared the first round lead in the P6 million The Country Club Invitational after shooting one-over-par 73s.

Balasabas birdied Nos. 1 and 2 and had a third on the eighth, and Bayron converted on a rare birdie on the punishing 18th as the two former caddies from the South with sterling pro careers put themselves in line to win the most lucrative local event in the country.

Defending champion Guido van der Valk of The Netherlands and Clyde Mondilla also submitted 73s as the quartet takes a one-shot lead over three seasoned veterans including Mars Pucay with another group of four led by Michael Bibat another shot behind.

Only the course’s length—more than 7,600 yards—and sleek greens were left as its primary defenses in a rather quiet opening round, as the winds that usually bowl over the field at this time of year blew as meekly as they could and gave most in the elite 30-player roster a chance to post low scores. INQ