TARLAC – Jay Bayron kept his hot irons and putting going, producing a six-under 66 and staying on track for the elusive Philippine Golf Tour crown halfway through the ICTSI Luisita Invitational here yesterday.

With Luisita’s dreaded wind a virtual non-factor for the second straight day, Bayron cashed in on his early start and fired a five-birdie spree from No. 11 for a 35-31 card, wresting a two-stroke lead over Clyde Mondilla at 13-under 131.

The first day leader, whose bogey-free, record-setting 64 early Tuesday sparked hopes of a strong PGT finish for the reigning but winless Order of Merit champion, actually sustained his first round feat with a birdie-eagle start from No. 11 in one of the late tee-offs. But he hobbled with bogeys on Nos. 17 and 3 and needed to birdie two of the last five to save a 69 with the wind whipping up a bit late in the day.

That dropped the Del Monte ace to second at 133 even as flightmate Peter Stojanovski, who matched Bayron’s opening 65, stayed in the hunt with his own version of a three-under card for a 134.

“I’ve been playing great overall in near-perfect condition – my iron shots are solid and my putting is right on target,” said Bayron, one of the veteran campaigners out to avert a winless PGT campaign.

“Hopefully, I’ll be able to play as good in the last two rounds,” added the former Order of Merit champion, who actually nailed a victory in the PGT Asia at Southwoods last June. His best finish at PGT was second to Justin Quiban in Bacolod last August.

Jhonnel Ababa, winner of the last PGT leg in Cebu last month, made his move with a solid 66 and grabbed solo fourth at 136, still five strokes behind Bayron heading to the last 36 holes of the P4 million championship capping the 10-stage PGT circuit put up by ICTSI and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

The rest of the 44 players who made the cut at two-over 146 stood too far behind, virtually reducing the battle for the top P750,000 purse among Bayron, Mondilla and Stojanovski with Ababa hoping to strike from behind with conditions expected to get tougher in the last two rounds.

“I’ve struggled a bit off the tee but overall, my game is okay. Just didn’t get the most of it,” said Mondilla, who racked up four victories last year but remained winless this season due to poor form. He birdied the 11th from close range then hacked a solid 6-iron second shot from 200 yards to within nine feet for eagle on the next.
Tim Stewart, who also hit five straight birdies from No. 11 to spike his opening 68, tried to match Bayron’s fiery start with four birdies in the first 12 holes. But the Australian fumbled at the finish, bogeying Nos. 16 and 17 to drop to 138 in the company of former PGT leg winners Zanieboy Gialon and Charles Hong, who shot identical 67s, unheralded Reymon Jaraula, who carded a 69, and Japanese Issei Mori, who made a 70.

Diminutive Joenard Rates and Spain’s Salvador Paya Vila rebounded from mediocre 72s with 67s for 139 in a tie with Tony Lascuña, who shot a 69, and Nilo Salahog, who fired a 70, while Del Monte leg winner Nicolas Paez and Arnold Villacencio pooled identical 140s after a 71 and 72, respectively.

Jobim Carlos, this year’s runaway OOM winner, blew a four-under card after 10 holes with a bogey on the par-5 No. 5. He ended up with a 69 and tied American Lexus Keoninh, who also fired a three-under card, at 141, 10 strokes off Bayron.

Barely making it to the final 36 holes at 146 are American Pete Vilairatana (70), Rafael Parra of Venezuela (71), Japanese Yu Ikeda (72), Phl Masters titlist Jerson Balasabas (75), Rene Menor (75) and Richard Sinfuego (76) in the event backed by Custom Clubmakers, Meralco, Champion, Summit Mineral Water, K&G Golf Apparel, BDO, Sharp, KZG, PLDT and M.Y. Shokai Technology, Inc.