JAKARTA– Filipino Jay Bayron stayed on the birdie train again today on the Mercedes-Benz Tour and took the first round lead in the inaugural US$50,000 (RM160,000) Kariza Indonesia Championship.
Bayron fired a six-under-par 66 at Gading Raya Golf Club, outside Jakarta.
Indonesia number one Rory Hie and Wisut Artjanawat from Thailand both carded 67s, while Singaporean Mardan Mamat returned a 68.
The Kariza Indonesia Championship is the third event of the season on the Mercedes-Benz Tour.
Bayron,30, has been in red hot form finishing tied second in the first two tournaments.
In the season opening Mercedes-Benz Masters in the Philippines, he was on course for a wire-to-wire victory but dropped shots over the closing holes.
Last weekend at the Singha Pattaya Open he shot a final round eight-under-par 64 to finish one behind the winner.
"I seem to be doing everything right apart from winning," said Bayron.
He made seven birdies and one bogey to once again firmly plant his name at the top of the leader board.
Bayron first appeared on the Mercedes-Benz Tour in 2007 when he finished as the leading amateur in the Mercedes-Benz Masters Vietnam.
He turned professional the following year and has made good progress in the professional game.
Hie pleased
Last season he claimed his maiden professional title when he triumphed on the Philippine Golf Tour.
Hie will be pleased to put in a solid first round in front of his home fans.
The talented golfer has not been at his best recently but is still one of the region's brightest prospects.
Hie turned professional in August of 2008 following a brilliant college career in the United States.
Later that year he won The International Championship on home soil to become the first Indonesian to win on the Mercedes-Benz Tour..
He played for the University of Southern California and at one point was ranked sixth best amateur in the world. The talented golfer attended college for two years and then opted to leave prematurely as he felt he was ready for the professional game.
Paired with Wisut and Mamat he raced into contention with three birdies on the trot from the 15th.
Wisut, who won twice on the Mercedes-Benz Tour in 2008, is hungry for another victory and came in with a bogey free round.
Mamat, a two-time winner on the Asian Tour, also kept a clean sheet while his compatriot Lam Chih Bing, who claimed the Mercedes-Benz Masters Indonesia in 2008, is one 14 players who returned 70.
Leading first round scores:
Par 72
66 - Jay Bayron (PHI) 67 - Rory Hie (INA), Wisut Artjanawat (THA) 68 - Mardan Mamat (SIN) 69 - Kwanchai Tannin (THA), Thanyakon Khrongpha (THA), Junaidi Ibrahim (INA) 70 - Lam Chih Bing (SIN), Juvic Pagunsan (PHI), Pariya Junhasavasdikul (THA), Khor Kheng Hwai (MAS), Hilmi Abdul Rahman (MAS), Dede Idris (INA), Nakul Vichitryuthasastr (THA), Antonio Lascuna (PHI), Panuphol Pittayarat (THA), Somkiat Srisanga (THA), Wittawat Sae-Ung (THA), Anthony Fernando (PHI), Ferdie Aunzo (PHI), Mars Pucay (PHI)
