Vets vow to end ICTSI PGT skid

MANILA, Philippines - Tony Lascuna, Marvin Dumandan and Cassius Casas, three Davaoeños who used to lord it over the field, seek to break a long winless skid on the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour as they vie in the BDO Canlubang Golf Invitational unfolding Nov. 9 at Cangolf’s north course in Laguna.

“It’s been a long time (since I last won). I just couldn’t get the breaks and had been unlucky in at least two tournaments,” said Lascuna, whose last pro win was in 2007 in the Selangor Masters in Malaysia.

On the local front, the former national champion and Putra Cup individual gold medalist just couldn’t pull it off, settling for four runner-up finishes this year, including a heart-breaking four-hole playoff loss to Robert Pactolerin in the Negros Occidental Classic last July.

But heading to the P1 million BDO Cangolf tilt, the penultimate leg of the 16-stage circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., the 40-year-old is upbeat of his chances on a course he also calls home.

Dumandan, who racked up three leg victories last year, is also due for a win. He had two second-place efforts this year, losing to Order of Merit frontrunner Juvic Pagunsan at Eastridge Classic and finishing in a three-way tie with Elmer Salvador and Lascuna at Aboitiz Invitational.

“I’ve been hitting the ball quite well but I’m still trying to polish my (putting) stroke, which I believe is the key,” said Dumandan in Filipino.

Like Lascuna, Casas said he couldn’t get the needed breaks in the clutch but the former Philippine Open champion, who used to dominate the circuit in the mid-90s and early 2000, has also failed to unleash a strong finishing kick, losing steam at Aboitiz Invitational (fifth) and Riviera Classic (second). Last week, he moved within two shots off Jhonnel Ababa but faded in the final round and ended up sixth.

“It’s just a matter of staying focused. I feel good and hope to contend in Canlubang,” said Casas, who last won at Del Monte last year.

Lascuna (No. 5), Dumandan (No. 6) and Casas (No. 8) are the only winless players in the top 8 of the OOM ranking and the pressure to finally end the long title drought builds up heading to the 54-hole event sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

The tournament is backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Unilab, Titleist, Sharp, Custom Clubmakers, Mizuno, PinoyGolfer.com, Inquirer Golf, A Round of Golf, Studio 23, Balls, and Dynamic Sports.