Casas back in groove, leads by one

DAVAO – Don’t write Cassius Casas off. Not just yet.

Almost forgotten after a recent string of disastrous scores, Casas’ bigtime swing was back in harness as he fired a five-under-par 67 yesterday to snatch a one-stroke lead after the penultimate round of the First Gentleman’s Professional Golf Circuit sixth leg here.

Overshadowed by his townmate Elmer Salvador’s solid showing the first two rounds, Casas exploded with seven birdies in a fiery effort at the up-and-down Rancho Palos Verdes course that saw him drop three consecutive birdies in each nine to put himself in winning position again.

What should make Casas’ mission for a confidence-boosting victory is that there are just two other players close enough to spoil his bid for a second leg win in the revived tour bankrolled by First Gentleman Mike Arroyo’s foundation and San Miguel Beer.

The player who made it as the first Filipino to play in the US Open last year was at 209, seven under par after 36 holes, with World Cup teammate Mars Pucay right behind him at 210 and Salvador just three adrift at 212.

Pucay, himself itching to end a two-year title drought, had a roller-coaster round of 70 while journeyman Salvador stumbled with a triple-bogey right on the first hole and needed all the gutsy plays to recover and still finish with a 74.

The fourth position in the standings were shared by Sta. Elena leg winner Tony Lascuna (69), Canlubang stop champion Richard Sinfuego (71) and veteran Eddie Bagtas (76) but all three need to come up with the biggest of comebacks as they lay seven shots off at 216.

The eminent Frankie Miñoza shot a second 77 in three days and was virtually out of it after falling in 23rd spot with a horde of nondescripts at 227.

Casas hopes that his performance in the first three rounds is an indication that "the worst is over."

After ending a long slump with a win at Sherwood Hills which served as the second leg last year, Casas returned to mediocrity with three consecutive missed cuts where he turned even in scores in the 80s.

Instead of consulting his regular gurus for a swing check, Casas did it on his own and things have started falling into place again.

"Di ako tumigil basta palo lang ng palo. Nag-review ako ng mga tapes ng swing ko noong nagpapanalo pa ako, ginaya ko na lang at mukhang umuubra naman," said Casas, who is now using a brand new set of Wilson clubs to help him in the experiment.

Casas has even decided to lie low from his overseas campaigns for a while for him to get his confidence back.

"Tingnan ko muna, sana bumalik lang kaagad ang kumpyansa."