Lascuña wrests 3-shot lead; Juvic quits

MANILA, Philippines - Tony Lascuña slowed down a bit after a course-record tying 65 with a three-under 69 but still surged ahead by three strokes as first round co-leader Marvin Dumandan struggled to match par 72 and Juvic Pagunsan withdrew due to an allergy in the second round of the ICTSI Royal Northwoods Championship in San Rafael, Bulacan yesterday.

Lascuña birdied two of the last four holes at the front to negate a double-bogey mishap on No. 4 where he drove out of bounds, giving the dusky Davaoeño a 34-35 card and a 36-hole aggregate of 10-under 134 at the Royal Northwoods Golf and Country Club.

That was three shots clear of Dumandan, whose putting turned sour on a day a host of others gained ground with under-par scores heading into the final round of the 54-hole tournament organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

“I suddenly lost my focus as I hit my drive on No. 4. I could’ve pulled away if not for that double-bogey,” said Lascuña in Filipino, referring to one of his three black marks on an otherwise solid card.

He misread an uphill, par-putt on No. 10 and three putted the 16th but rammed in seven birdies on another fine day, two short of matching his binge in the first round that kept him in step with Dumandan.

Winner of the ICTSI-Sherwood leg, Dumandan grappled with his balky putter all day, making 33 putts after a sterling 27-putt effort Wednesday.

He flubbed four makeable birdie putts and had one three-putt bogey, knocking him off the lead with a 137 after a 72.

“They just wouldn’t fall,” rued Dumandan in Filipino.

Juvic Pagunsan, who stalked Lascuña and Dumandan with a solid 67 in the first round, decided to withdraw before tee-off time due to rashes on his face, taking away one solid contender for the top P200,000 purse in the P1 million event sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

“He did everything properly. He didn’t do anything drastic,” said ICTSI-PGT chief Colo Ventosa, referring to Pagunsan’s withdrawal which brought to mind the latter’s caper at ICTSI-Forest Hills when he pulled out in the second round without informing the organizers.

Elmer Salvador, who ruled the ICTSI-Mt. Malarayat leg, fired a second straight 69 to put himself in contention at 138 while Rey Pagunsan, who lost by one to Ferdie Aunzo here last year, carded a 70 for joint fourth with Richard Abaring, who also shot a 70 for a 139.

Rufino Bayron turned in a three-under 69 and stood in sixth with a 140 while Richard Sinfuego also shot a 69 for 141 in a tie with Anthony Fernando, who had a 71, and amateur Dante Becierra, who also made a 71.

Former Philippine Open champion Robert Pactolerin shot a 68 but stood eight strokes behind at 142 in a tie with amateur Jobim Carlos, member of the team that won the Lion City Cup championship in Malaysia last week, who fired the day’s best score of five-under 67, highlighted by four straight birdies from No. 2.

The tournament, the 11th leg of the 13-stage circuit, is backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Jaguar, Land Rover, Studio 23, Balls TV, Srixon/Cleveland Golf, Callaway Golf, Odyssey and Golf Punk and media partners Business Mirror, Inquirer Golf Monthly, A Round of Golf, Pinoygolfer.com and Omnisource.