Lascuña grabs 2-shot lead with 65

MANILA, Philippines - Tony Lascuña shot a bogey-free seven-under 65 as he wrested a two-shot lead with erstwhile leader Juvic Pagunsan and a surging Nicholas Fung of Malaysia halfway through Mercedes-Benz Masters Indonesia at the Emeralda Golf and Country Club in Indonesia yesterday.

Lascuña, out to end a three-year title drought on local and international fronts, sustained a solid backside stint of four birdies in his first round output of 68 as he gunned down seven more in the second round to surge ahead of the field at 11-under 133.

“It is nice to be playing well. I am quite relaxed and not thinking about winning. I know I have come close a lot but a victory will come if I stay patient,” said Lascuña, who had five top 5 finishes in 2008, finished second twice last year and turned in three top finishes this season.

Pagunsan, flawless with a 64 in the opening round, struggled at the front this time but recovered with two birdies at the back to salvage a 71 and a 135.

Fung caught up Pagunsan in second with a six-under 66 while Thai Namchok Tantipokakul stood two strokes adrift at 137 after a 69.

Artemio Murakami carded a 73 and dropped to joint ninth with 141 while Ferdie Aunzo also made a 73 for a 142.

Lascuña, a perennial contender but never a winner after scoring a breakthrough win in the 2007 Selangor Masters, opened with back-to-back birdies, added two more in the next seven holes before windup up with three birdies in the last four holes.

Lascuña turned professional in 1997 after a stellar amateur career highlighted by winning the individual and team titles in the 1993 Putra Cup.

He has missed only one cut in 11 events on the Asian Tour this season and had two playoff losses on the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour.