Bayron takes 1-shot lead over Tabuena at John Hay

Rufino Bayron stood tallest on a day of torrid scoring, shooting an eight-under-par 60 yesterday to take a one-stroke lead over Miguel Tabuena and two others after the opening round of the ICTSI Camp John Hay Championship in Baguio.

The ex-caddy from Apo Golf in Davao returned a 30-30 card and was without a bogey like Tabuena and Clyde Mondilla, who were joined in second place by Jonel Ababa, another entry from Davao.

The up-and-down course played so easy on the field with a total of 31 players cracking par. Of those in the top four, only Ababa, the former National Caddies’ Open champion, had a bogey in his card.

Guido Van Der Valk, the Dutch who calls the Philippines home, fired a 62 like Carl Santos-Ocampo to be two back. Michael Bibat and local boy Mars Pucay shot 63s to be well within the mix in the P2.5 million event dangling P450,000 to the champion.

“There was practically no wind and my game clicked, especially putting, which is key to winning here,” said Bayron in Filipino.

Bayron’s score announced his return to form after he had missed the cut in the recent Solaire Open of the Asian Tour at Wack Wack East.

Eight players returned 64s counting defending champion Marvin Dumandan and Antonio Lascuna, the circuit’s Order of Merit winner last year.

Elmer Salvador, the fifth placer at Wack Wack behind Taipei’s Lin Wen-tang and three other foreigners, shot a 62 like Ferdie Aunzo.

“I just hope to keep my form in the next three days,” said Mondilla. Musong Castillo