Cagayan teener boots out Bayron

MANILA, Philippines – Brent Sumampong scored a stunning upset over Rufino Bayron, 2&1, to join the winners in the first day of match play in the Philippine Amateur Golf Championships presented by Samsung at the Eastridge Golf Club in Binangonan, Rizal yesterday.

The 19-year-old Sumampong held his own against the former national team mainstay who dominated a pro tournament last November, rescuing a par on the 17th then watching Bayron flub his own bid from five feet to clinch the win.

It was a big win for the Cagayan de Oro native, who surprised his fancied ICTSI teammate with his power and steady putting to clinch a spot in the Last 16 against local bet Dino Villanueva, who routed Korean Kim In Jae, 6&4, in their own side of the duel.

Low medalist Jhonnel Ababa also came out smoking in the head-to-head duel stage, whipping last qualifier Glenn de Leon of Sta. Elena, 6&5, to lead the winners in the upper half of the draw.

The top Calatagan bet, who topped the 36-hole stroke play elims of the event sponsored by Samsung and conducted by the Nat’l. Golf Association of the Phils. and the Professional Sports Management Group, faces Gabriel Atienza, who won over Ronnie Littaua, in the Last 16.

Back-to-back ladies champion Anya Tanpinco needed two extra holes to nip ICTSI teammate Sarah Ababa, 1-up, and forge a quarterfinal duel with top qualifier Ma. Andrea Unson, who overwhelmed Kristine Leonen, 6&5.

Chihiro Ikeda and Dottie Ardina, two of the fancied bets in the fold, also advanced to the next round with the former beating Apple Fudolin, 5&4, and the latter outclassing Inez del Rosario, 7&6.

Ikeda will take on Malaysian Ainil Johani, who won over Regina de Guzman, 2-up, while Ardina, 15, battles reigning RP Ladies Open champion Louise Manalo, who trounced Annie Sabater, 4&3.

The other quarter pairing pits Crystal Superal against Beverly Mendoza with the former edging last year’s runner-up Irina Gabasa, 2&1, and the latter beating Joanne Lagan, 5&3.

Meanwhile, topnotcher OV Espiritu of Manila Golf nipped Cangolf’s Bing Bunye, 1-up, to set up a semis showdown with another Cangolf bet Rolly Viray, who booted out teammate Tony Olives, 4&3.

Second seed Richie Garcia also posted a 4&3 win over Sengyo Kato to arrange a semis clash with Runes Teodoro, who beat Benjamin Jacinto, 4&3, in seniors play.

No. 2 Antonio Asistio II also cruised to the next round with a 7&6 romp over Valley’s Kim Seoung Geun to arrange a clash with fellow ICTSI bet Gino Bunyi, who nipped Park Jung Soo of Eastridge, 1-up, in the lower half of the bracket.

Others who advanced were Miko Alejandro, Dante Becierra and Peter Villaber of ICTSI, Calatagan’s Mark Fernando and Alvin Engino, Malaysian Jamil Iylia Mohd, Jeung Hun Wang of Riviera, King Stehmeier of Alabang and youthful Miguel Tabuena of Alabang and John Kier Abdon of Southwoods.

Alejandro beat Leonard Lofranco, 7&5, Becierra thumped Giovanni Abanyo, 4&3, Villaber trounced Clyde Mondilla, 7&5, Fernando outlasted JR Quiachon, 2&1, Engino defeated Belem Arancon, 2&1, Hamil outplayed Junjun Plana, 3&2, Wang prevailed over Ricky delos Santos, 2&1, Stehmeier upended Ayon Sanchez, 1-up, Tabuena downed Dakila Falcon, 3&2, and Abdon bundled out Edsel Tan, 3&1.

The event is backed by Thunderbird Resorts, Wow Magic Sing, Mizuno, A Round of Golf, the Philippine Sports Commision, Inquirer Golf Monthly and hole-in-one sponsors Club Car, International Armoring Inc., Custom Clubmaker, Crestlink, ABW, Gargol and CranUTI.