Bayron, Murakami earn Asian Tour cards

Jay Bayron and Artemio Murakami became the latest additions to the Asian Tour's elite roster as they rolled through the Qualifying School Final Stage presented by the Sports Authority of Thailand at the Imperial Lakeview and Springfield Royal Country Club in Hua Hin Saturday. Bayron closed out with two-over-par 74 and was the top Filipino bet on 20th place with a 72-hole total of 283. Murakami matched Bayron's 74 for a 284 haul and a share of 28th spot. American David Lipsky topped the event with a 68 for 274. Carl Ocampo Santos, the last Filipino bet, bombed out of contention with a 287 after a 73 and 45th overall. The top 40 players plus ties earned their respective Asian Tour cards. "This is the break I've waiting for. It'll be a busy 2012 season for me," said Bayron. Bayron hobbled early on, dropping four shots in the first nine, where he limped with a double bogey on the ninth. He rebounded with a two-birdie performance coming home to salvage that 74. Murakami looked crisp in the initial half with three birdies that sandwiched a bogey on the eighth. However, he slid to a 39 at the turn after he tumbled with a double bogey 7 on No. 14. — Adrian Flores/JVP, GMA News