Golf: Bayron expected to shine in Pagunsan-less Philippine Open

With Asian Tour No. 1 Juvic Pagunsan skipping the ICTSI-Philippine Open this week, look for last year's runner-up Jay Bayron to take up the cudgels for the hometown bets at the Wack Wack Golf and Country Club. Bayron came to within a stroke of forcing a playoff with eventual champ Berry Henson of the US in the final round held at Wack Wack's East course last year, but the American saved par on the 18th to preserve the victory. "I really had a great time in 2011. I didn't have much expectation last year so to finish as the runner-up was an achievement itself," said Bayron in an Asian Tour-sponsored press conference. Down by two on the last 18, Bayron took the lead momentarily on an eagle at the par-four, No. 2 on a superb pitching wedge second shot from 115 yards, then watched as Henson limp to a bogey for a three-shot swing. But that was all the Filipino could do best as the US bet showed nerves of steel in the final 16 holes. "I thought it would be start of a run. Benson calmly sank his par putt on the 18th that quashed my playoff hope," said Bayron. Compatriot Miguel Tabuena, meanwhile, will use his Sony Open experience in trying to win his maiden Asian Tour crown. He played alongside the likes of Corey Pavin and Zach Johnson in the US PGA Tour event, something he described as educating. "They told me to just enjoy the game and never mind the pressure," Tabuena said. Also at the press conference was Kieran Pratt, who hoisted his first Asian Tour crown in Myanmar earlier this year. He could have rejoined  his Australian folks this week, but opted instead to slug it out in the 96th edition of Asia's oldest national championship. Hopefully, Pratt said, he'll do better this year as compared to the previous one, where he was cut after two days. "I didn't have much success with Wack Wack in my first try. Now, I think I'll be in the thick of things. I'm heading to test the back nine of the East and see how I will attack it," Pratt said. Manila-based Guido Van der Valk of the Netherlands has had the pleasure of playing the par-72 East layout more often than the other participants. But he stressed that does not guarantee anything, especially if the pin placements will be in strategically hard locations. "It's an advantage, yes, only to a certain extent. You have to think about the course conditions on game day. I guess everybody loves the good challenge to play the East," he said. — AMD/JVP, GMA News