Jay Bayron became the newest champion on the rich ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour as he ruled the ICTSI-Forest Hills Championship with a closing one-under-par 70 for a one-shot victory over leg winner Marvin Dumandan at the Forest Hills Golf and Country Club in Antipolo late Friday.

Bayron, bunched in a five-way tie for second, including Dumandan, one shot behind Ferdie Aunzo at the start of the final round, came through with a birdie on the par-4 17th to wrest control then matched Dumandan’s par on the final hole to foil the latter’s bid for a second crown and join the elite circle of winners in the P10 million circuit.

He had a 215 aggregate over 54 holes and took the P200,000 purse in a victory that also avenged his setback to Dumandan, who beat him in the ICTSI-Eagle Ridge leg of the circuit put up by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

Dumandan birdied the par-5 16th to join Bayron at the helm and set up a down-to-the-wire finish but lost his bid with flubbed birdie putts in the last two holes.  He finished with an even par 71 for a 216 worth P120,000.

Gene Bondoc, who led in the first round, also birdied the 16th to card a 72 and record his best finish at third with a 217.

Aunzo, who thwarted Rey Pagunsan’s comeback bid to top the ICTSI-Royal Northwoods Invitational recently, cracked under pressure this time and limped home with a six-over 77, tumbling down to joint ninth with Robert Pactolerin, who had a 75, at 221.

The long-hitting Aunzo actually went four-up over his pursuers with a par-birdie-par-birdie start. But he reeled back with a triple-bogey on the par-5 sixth and dropped off the lead with a bogey on the eighth. He made the turn at 37 while Bayron took charge with a 34.

Aunzo tried to fight back with a birdie on the 10th but fell back again with a double-bogey on No. 12 and holed out with a triple-bogey seven that put to naught his eagle-3 on the 16th.

Elmer Salvador, who humbled the field to reign in the Sherwood leg of the tour backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Pisanti, Srixon, FAMI, Business Mirror, Motorola, Omnisource, Nike Golf, Tiger Gatorade, and Pepsico, struggled with a 73 and wound up joint fourth with unheralded Ramil Bisera, who carded a 72, at 219.

Cookie LaO’ fired a 73 to salvage a tie for sixth with ICTSI-Mt. Malarayat Invitational winner Danny Zarate, who had a 73, and Michael Bibat, who made a 74, at 220.

After two fine rounds of 75 and 72, Miguel Tabuena, the lone amateur to advance to the final round of the P1 million event, skied to an eight-over 79 and wound up in joint 19th with pro Orlan Sumcad, who had a 76.