Tabuena ties Rufino Bayron for top spot

Miguel Tabuena shot a six-under-par 62 yesterday to catch Rufino Bayron for the lead heading into the final two rounds of the ICTSI John Hay Championship in Baguio.

The 18-year-old, the odds-on pick coming into the tournament being held on a course that doesn’t favor power off the tees, had a 33-29 card for a 36-hole 13-under 123 total like Bayron, who fired a 63 highlighted by an eagle and five birdies against two bogeys.

Only one of the top 29 players in the leaderboard failed to crack par in the second round with Michael Bibat firing a day-best 61 that vaulted him to within a stroke of the pace.

Bibat also had an eagle and eight birdies that went with three bogeys with Clyde Mondilla shooting a 66 to trail by four at 127.

Jay Bayron, Antonio Lascuña and Jonel Ababa remained within striking distance at 128 after firing 63, 64 and 67, respectively.

Defending champion Marvin Dumandan was in a huge group at 129 together with Carl Santos-Ocampo after assembling a 65. Santos-Ocampo, second placer to Dumandan last year, fired a 67.

“I just stuck to my game plan—be patient,” said Tabuena. “It’s a matter of hitting the greens right since they are slow and hard.”

Rufino Bayron almost had an albatross on the 17th and vowed to make it an interesting final flight today that will also include Bibat.  Musong R. Castillo