Kota Kinabalu: Jay Bayron took full advantage of a faltering field wit a solid performance on a tough back nine to lead after the first round of the US$60,000 Sabah Masters today.
Bayron, who boasts a string of high finishes on the ASEAN PGA Tour this year, registered a fine five-under-par 65 to compatriot Anthony Fernando and Thailand’s Tanatchan Puaktes by three strokes. Another Filipino, Marlon Dizon, was a stroke further back at Sutera Harbour Golf & Country Club.
The pre-tournament favourites are all in the hunt with local hero Nicholas Fung and his countrymen S. Sivachandran and Airil Rizman carding 70s. Indonesia’s top golfer was Rory Hie, who shot 71. Thailand’s Wisut Artjanawat, winner of last month’s Palembang Musi Championship, returned a 72.
Bayron tied for third in the Palembang event and boasting equal fifth and sixth placed finishes this season is knocking on the door for his first ASEAN PGA Tour victory. “I don’t know how I did it but I played the back nine in four-under without any bogeys. It is a really tough back nine. The par-four 18th is 499 yards!” said Bayron.
The 32-year-old finished second in the first three events on the ASEAN PGA Tour last year but is unperturbed by not having tasted victory yet.
“I won an event on the Philippine Golf Tour this year for my first win as a professional so that was great. I have been working really hard on my short game at Manila Golf & Country Club and that is really paying off. I am not stressed about not having won yet. I just need to stay patient,” added Bayron, who nailed six birdies in total, including four on the back nine, dropping his only shot of the day at the par-four 4th.
Fung, the 21-year-old who grew up playing golf at the Sabah Golf & Country Club in Kota Kinabalu got off to a poor start by dropping shots on the first, second and fourth.
“I was pleased to finish the day level after struggling at the beginning. I am still very much in contention,” said Fung, who won the Professional Golf of Malaysia (PGM) Sabah Classic earlier this year on the domestic Malaysian circuit.
The Sabah Masters is the sixth event on this year’s ASEAN PGA Tour. The tournament has not been played since 1999 when American Robert Huxtable took the title when it was also played at Sutera Harbour.
A number of amateurs have also been invited this week with Albright Chong demonstrating his abilities with an opening three-over 73 to share 18th placing.
Leading first round scores (Malaysians unless stated)
65 – Jay Bayron (PHI)
68 – Anthony Fernando (PHI), Tanatchan Puaktes (THA)
69 – Marlon Dizon (PHI)
70 – Apichart Papitak (THA), Nicholas Fung, S Sivachandran, Airil Rizman Zahari
71 – Rory Hie (INA), Wittawat Sae-Ung (THA), C.J Gatto (USA)
72 – Koh Dengshan (SIN), Lim Eng Seng, Supravee Phatam (THA), Wisut Artjanawat (THA), Pornlapat Wongchindawest (THA), Tran Le Duy Nhat (VNM)
