Davao's Ababa snatches win as Bayron cracks

SILANG, Cavite - Davao's Jhonnel Ababa rallied from seven strokes down and nipped townmate Cassius Casas by one with a closing one-under 70 for the ICTSI Riviera Classic crown as erstwhile leader Jay Bayron, another Dabawenyo, collapsed with an 81 at Riviera's Langer course here, Friday.
Ababa came through with three birdies in the last 11 holes in second-to-last flight to fuel his title bid then watched Bayron throw away strokes in the last six holes to snatch the crown, his second in the last five legs of the circuit. He wound up with a 217, four-over at the wind-raked, hazard-laden par-71 layout.
But it proved enough to secure a follow-up to his victory in the ICTSI Iloilo Golf Challenge at Sta. Barbara last July where he also fought back from five strokes down to beat Bayron in a playoff for his maiden win on the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc.
"I was just lucky and Jay had a bad game," said Ababa, who banked another P200,000 from the total prize fund of P1 million in the 11th leg of the 16-stage tour sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.
Bayron, who appeared headed for another romp after storming to a five-shot lead over Rey Pagunsan and seven over Ababa with 18 holes to play, bogeyed the first three holes in windy condition, made another three-string bogey from No. 5 before dropping two strokes on No. 9 against a lone birdie on No. 8 for a horrible 42.
He birdied No. 10 but made four bogeys in the last six holes for that nine-over 81 in a bizarre fold-up from a player who routed the field at Aboitiz Invitational presented by ICTSI with a startling five-under 30 at the backside of Cebu Country Club three weeks ago.
"I had a tough day out there. The wind was so strong from the start," rued Bayron, whose championship flightmates Pagunsan and Anthony Fernando also turned in over-par rounds of 77 and 73, respectively.
Casas, who shared the first-round lead with Antonio Asistio II but reeled back with a 77 in the second round, three-putted No. 17 and missed forcing a playoff with Ababa. He also shot a 70 but fell short by one with a 218 worth P120,000.
"If not for my 77 in the second round, I would've won this one," said Casas, who last won at ICTSI Del Monte last year.
Playing in third to the last flight, Casas matched par 35 at the front to catch up with Ababa and made two birdies against a bogey at the back to remain tied for the lead. But he three-putted the 17th to fall behind and missed an eight-footer for birdie on the tough finishing hole.
Fernando settled for solo third with a 219 after a 73 while Bayron, the reigning Order of Merit champion, tumbled down to fourth with a 221.
Asistio carded a 74 and wound up tied for fifth with Richard Sinfuego (72) and Pagunsan (77) at 222 while Mhark Fernando matched Bayron's tournament-best 67 in the second round with his own four-under card as he salvaged solo eighth at 223.
Korean Wang Jeung Hun made a 74 and emerged the top amateur with a 224 as he shared ninth place with Randy Garalde (74) and Jerson Balasabas (75) in the tournament backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Unilab, BDO, Titleist, Sharp, Custom Clubmakers, Mizuno, PinoyGolfer.com, Inquirer Golf, Omnisource International, A Round of Golf, Studio 23, Balls, and Dynamic Sports.(pr)