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Murakami slows down in wind, up by four
Written by staff   
Saturday, 24 January 2009 07:19

Artemio Murakami found no need to dish out another brilliant round to stay in control. It only took him a gutsy 70 to remain at helm and whisk off the early challenge of his fancied rivals.

Murakami slowed down with an even-par round under tougher playing condition but held on to a four-stroke lead over a charging amateur Rufino Bayron as RP Open champion Angelo Que and titleholder Juvic Pagunsan tumbled down with over par scores halfway through P4.63 million The Country Club Invitational at The Country Club here yesterday.

Murakami failed to flaunt the form he dished out in setting a new course record of 62 in benign condition Thursday but he succeeded in staying on top with an eight-under 132 aggregate, four strokes ahead of Bayron, who threatened to spoil the big guns’ party again.

Bayron, who humbled the pros with a playoff win over Jerome Delariarte to snatch the Valley leg crown of the Philippine Golf Tour late last year, came rushing home with a 33 at the back for a second straight 68, one of the three best scores turned in a day when the dreaded wind blew in varied directions, adding up to the field’s woes in club selection.

“It was tough choosing what club to use as the wind direction would change repeatedly,” said Murakami, whose drive on the testy No. 4 got blown off into the hazard for a double-bogey that put to naught his two-under par effort with birdies on Nos. 18 and 1.

“I will just try my best to win again. I feel good and I like my chances,” said Bayron, who birdied Nos. 12 and 14 then made a shaky finish of two birdies against two bogeys for that 68. He had a 136.

Antonio Asistio, the other talented amateur who racked up three wins abroad last year, worked his way up with two birdies in the last six holes at the front for a 69, outscoring Frankie Miñoza for the second straight day and into solo third with a 137.

Jay Bayron matched par 70 to seize solo fourth at 138, six shots behind Murakami, while Que, five shots behind the leader at the start of the round, sputtered with three three-putts and wound up with a two-over 72 for a 139.

Worse was Juvic Pagunsan, last year’s runaway winner who hobbled with a five-over 75 on four bogeys and a double bogey with only a birdie to show. He had a 144, 12 shots off.

Miñoza blew a one-under card with eight holes left with two double bogeys and two bogeys for a 35-40 and a 147, barely making it to the weekend play of the event sponsored by ICTSI and offering P1.35 million to the winner.
 
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