Jay Bayron nips Tabuena for CJH title

JAY BAYRON snapped a long winless spell in style yesterday, shooting a final round nine-under-par 59 before nipping three-day leader Miguel Tabuena in the second playoff hole to capture the P2.5 million ICTSI Camp John Hay championship title in Baguio.

Bayron wiped out a five-stroke overnight deficit with a 30-29 card and then two-putted from three feet on the par-5 16th for birdie to win for the first time in two years on this tour and pocket the P450,000 champion’s purse.

Tabuena missed taking the playoff to a third playoff hole after settling for a routine par on the 16th. The 18-year-old closed out with a 64 and was caught at the top by Bayron, who birdied the 72nd hole from 10 feet for a record 23-under 249 total.

Jonel Ababa fired a 63 and was third, two strokes behind with Rufino Bayron, Jay’s younger brother, shooting a 61 for solo fourth another two shots back.

“I didn’t expect to win this one, this is the first time that I came back from a huge deficit to win,” the 34-year-old Bayron, second placer to American Berry Henson in the 2011 Philippine Open, said.

Tabuena, who opened up with a 61 before shooting consecutive 62s to take the three-shot lead into the final day, missed a chance at winning in regulation when he muffed a birdie putt that was  shorter than what Jay Bayron had.

Tabuena, seeking a second straight title in the young tour this year, didn’t make bogey until the 59th hole, and that told on him heavily.

Richard Sinfuego also turned in a swashbuckling 60 to jump from out of nowhere to solo fifth at 255 and won P110,000 while the Srixon-backed Michael Bibat and Clyde Mondilla both carded 65s and ended tied for sixth at 256.

Antonio Lascuña wound up eighth at 258 after a 67 while Rey Pagunsan set a new course record 58, erasing Carl Santos-Ocampo’s 59 last year, to share ninth place at 260 with Christopher delos Santos (66), Randy Garalde (66) and Elmer Salvador (67).

The event was sponsored by ICTSI and backed by Nike Golf, Empire Golf and Sports Shop, Mizuno, Titleist, Srixon, Foot Joy, Callaway, Pacsports, Custom Clubmakers, Cleveland Golf and Sharp with Balls, Studio 23, Pinoygolfer.com and Inquirer Golf as media partners. Musong R. Castillo