Asistio, Bayron clash for title
STA. ROSA, Laguna — Top seed Tonton Asistio and Asian Games veteran Jay Bayron hurdled their respective rivals in the semifinal round yesterday to arrange a title showdown while Junior World champion Dottie Ardina and former RP Ladies Open titlist Carmelette Villaroman dispute the ladies crown in the 2006 Philippine Amateur Golf Championships at The Country Club here.
Asistio, 16, dished out a solid round to dominate Korean Sim Young Ho, 4 & 3, to earn a crack at the crown against the 28-year-old Bayron. Bayron beat Mark Fernando, 1 up, in the other semis match.
Ardina, out to cap a banner year that saw her win six international titles, including the Junior World in San Diego and the Hong Kong Open, finished off Malaysian Ainil Abu Bakar with a 2 & 1 triumph to reach the final.
But the 13-year-old Ardina will have to come up with big drives and a superb short game against Villaroman, who trounced national pool member Bambee dela Paz with a convincing 4 & 3 win in the other semis contest.
Both championships, slated at 7:15 a.m. today, will be a marathon 36-hole duel, thus putting emphasis on endurance and consistent quality of play over a long period.
In the battle for third place, Fernando overwhelmed Sim, 6 & 5, to complete his impressive debut in the annual tournament sponsored by the International Container Terminal Services, Inc. (ICTSI).
Abu Bakar, on the other hand, scored a 5 & 4 victory over de la Paz to bag third place honors in the ladies side of the event conducted by the National Golf Association of the Phils. (NGAP).
After showcasing his talent in stroke play, which he topped, Asistio proved his worth in match play, thumping Joel Opaco in the first round, 5 & 4, thwarting Ferdie Aunzo, 1-up, then beating Rufino Bayron, 2-1, in the quarterfinals.
The second seeded Bayron, chasing the big one in a long amateur career, blasted Asian Games teammate Gene Bondoc, 4 & 3, survived Malaysian Edmund Au after 20 holes, before outlasting Marvin Dumandan, 2 & 1.
The durable Villaroman, winner of the RP Ladies Open in 1993, finished fourth in the elims then defeated Paulina Sotto, 2-up at the start of the match play before holding off Asian Gamer Anya Tanpinco after 22 holes in the quarters.
Ardina actually struggled in the elims but made it safely at No. 10 before edging fellow Junior World champion Cyna Rodriguez, 1up, in the Last 16 and bundling out No. 2 seed Crystal Superal, 2 & 1, to arrange a semis clash with Abu Bakar.
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