Lascuna ends drought as Bayron crumbles

GEN. TRIAS, Cavite, Philippines  – Tony Lascuna ended a four-year title drought by winning the P1 million ICTSI Eagle Ridge Invitational yesterday, shooting a bogey-free six-under 66 and pouncing on erstwhile leader Jay Bayron’s bizarre fold-up at Eagle Ridge’s Faldo course here.

Lascuna overhauled a five-stroke deficit with a flawless start of four birdies at the front while watching Bayron turn in his worst-ever round of 77 after a pair of 69s, enabling the former to run away with a six-shot victory instead after that rare 11-shot swing in the final round of a big tournament.

“I don’t know what happened to him (Bayron). I just went on and played my game,” said Lascuna, who last won at Valley just before the International Container Terminal Services, Inc. revived the pro circuit four years ago, in Filipino. He finished with a seven-under 209 worth P200,000.

Lascuna actually had four cracks at the title in last year’s ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour, but ended up short at Orchard, Cebu and Calatagan while losing in a playoff to Robert Pactolerin in Bacolod.

“I am very thankful to my wife Che and daughter Shanryl Antonette for their prayers. Si Shan walang ibang prayer except that ‘Lord, please let my dad win and bring me some trophy,’” said the 42-year-old Lascuna, who has booked 19 victories, including the Selangor Masters in Malaysia in 2007, until he went on a slump in 2008.

All it took to end the long spell was a fine start and a bad one for Bayron.

While Lascuna picked up early birdies from close range on Nos. 1 and 2 to press his bid, Bayron threw away shots on No. 3 (bogey) and No. 4 (double-bogey) and to lose his grip of the lead, allowing Lascuna to draw level at three-under overall. Two more birdies on No. 6 and 8 by Lascuna for a 32 coupled with Bayron’s bogey on No. 9 for a 40 put the former ahead by three.

Jun Bernis, eight behind Bayron at the start of the round, tried to give chase with an opening 35 but settled for a 69 and joint second with Bayron at 215. They shared the combined P185,000 prize.