Bernis seizes 1-shot lead with 65

LIPA City, Batangas , Philippines  – Jun Bernis matched Jay Bayron’s sizzling five-under 31 card at the front and snatched a one-stroke lead with an eagle-spiked seven-under 65 at the start of the P1 million ICTSI Classic at the Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club here yesterday.

Bernis, the former national champion still chasing his first pro win following a long layoff from an injury, bucked a bogey start at the back on No. 11 with a birdie on the 13th then eagled the par-5 17th to build the momentum for his fiery charge at the front in one of the late afternoon flights.

He rammed in a birdie on No. 1, came through with a three-birdie string from No. 3 then closed out with another birdie on the par-5 ninth to overtake Bayron, who also charged home with a 31 at the front in the morning session and took the clubhouse lead with a 66.

But Bayron, who beat Marvin Dumandan by one stroke to rule the Forest Hills leg of the inaugural Philippine Golf Tour, had to settle for second as Bernis, who finished joint 10th with reigning Philippine Open champion Elmer Salvador in the recent The Country Club Invitational, the kickoff leg of this year’s Philippine Golf Tour, took charge with that 65.

Bayron also anchored his solid round on three straight birdies from No. 7 as he turned what had appeared to be a mediocre start of 35 into a sizzling finish on a hot and windy day.

Unheralded Elmer Saban, who had three missed cut stints in 10 legs last year and wound up 31st in the Order of Merit ranking, birdied three of the first five holes at the back for a 33, finishing with a fiery four-under 68 and humbling the rest of the revered names on the local circuit.

Another obscure bet, Arnold Villacencio also shot a 68 in a late flight to grab a share of third while Benjie Magada also came charging home with a 69 to tie Marvin Dumandan and Mars Pucay in fifth with 69.

Dumandan, runner-up to Danny Zarate here last year, made a 33 at the front but faltered with a double-bogey 6 on the final hole for that 69 while Pucay, who missed the cut at the Avantha Masters of the Asian Tour in India last week, also rallied with a 33 at the front to put himself in early contention in the 54-hole event, the second leg of a 12-stage circuit organized by the PGT Inc. and sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

Salvador, who bested the cream of the country’s pro crop to rule the RP Open here last December, flashed some kind of resiliency as he recovered from a 37 start to card a 70 for joint eighth with veteran Rey Pagunsan and Marlon Dizon.

Winner of two legs on the PGT circuit, including the Order of Merit crown, Salvador came through with three birdies in the last six holes to stay within striking distance of Bayron and keep his title bid in the event backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Jaguar, Land Rover, Studio 23, Balls TV and Golf Punk.

Dante Becierra, member of the ICTSI-TCC team, and Sonny Villaber, fired identical 71s to emerge the leading amateurs in the event as they joined Tony Lascuna, Ruben Sasutil, Cookie La’O, Ferdie Aunzo, Michael Bibat and defending champion Danny Zarate.

Artemio Murakami matched par 72 to share 19th place with Jerome Delariarte, Ramil Bisera, Christopher delos Santos and amateur Rufino Bayron.

Frankie Minoza struggled with a 74 on a 37-37 round but remained in the upper half of the starting field of 97 that included the country’s leading amateurs.

Lascuna, an Asian Tour regular, blew a superb 32 at the back with four bogeys against a birdie in the last nine holes, settling for a 71 for a share of seventh with Zarate, who had two birdies against a bogey for 34-37 card.