Lascuna outlasts Que, Salvador, bags crown

MANILA, Philippines - Tony Lascuna outgunned Elmer Salvador and Angelo Que in a shootout stretching 12 holes then came out of twice rain-delayed duel as steady as ever to capture the ICTSI Manila Southwoods crown with a bogey-free 67 at the Masters Course in Carmona, Cavite yesterday.

Lascuna made four pars and a birdie at resumption of play on No. 14, dashing whatever hopes a charging Que had to nail his second leg win after snapping a four-year title drought with a victory at Eagle Ridge Championship last month.

He wound up with a 14-under 274 worth P450,000, beating Que by two after the former three-time Asian Tour leg winner, who moved within three off Lascuna and Salvador with a course-record setting 64 Friday, followed up with a 66 to snatch runner-up honors at 12-under 276 and P320,000.

Salvador, who held off Lascuna to retain the Sherwood title last April, lost his rhythm and touch at the back, making three bogeys in a five-hole stretch from No. 12 and plunging to third at 280. He settled for P210,000.

Lascuna’s closing 68 capped an impressive run of under-par cards at the hazard-laden layout, assembling a 69, 68 and a 70 in the first three rounds that kept him tied with Salvador heading to the final 18 holes of the P2.5 million championship.

He made just four bogeys in four days, including an opening-hole mishap Wednesday while gunning down an eagle and hitting 16 birdies, including five yesterday.

The lead changed hands twice in the early going in a thrilling start with Que biding his time with five straight pars before Lascuna surged ahead with a birdie on No. 7 and kept a one-stroke lead over Salvador with a 33 at the turn. He gained on a crucial two-shot swing with a birdie on No. 12 which Salvador bogeyed, enabling Que to assume the challenger’s role by stringing four birdies from No. 6 for a 32.

Que moved threateningly close with another birdie on No. 11 to trail Lascuna by just one but the latter fended off his charge with a crucial birdie on the 12th then went three-up again with pars on the next two holes as Que fumbled with a bogey on No. 13.

Not even two delays, caused by heavy rains and lightning, could rattle Lascuna, who played with poise and confidence at resumption to finish off Que with routine pars while matching his rival’s closing birdie on the par-5 18th.

Michael Bibat matched his opening round 66 with another six-under card while two-leg winner Miguel Tabuena also rallied with the day’s best seven-under 65 as they wound up tied for fourth at 283.

Rufino Bayron also went under-par for four days – all 71s – as he shared sixth place with John Hay leg winner Marvin Dumandan, who matched par 72, at 284 while Clyde Mondilla finished solo eighth with a 285 after a 72.

Elmer Saban ended up ninth at 286 after a two-under 70 while rookie pro Zanie Boy Gialon shot a 72 for a 287 as he made a top 10 finish in the sixth leg of the 16-stage circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

Frankie Miñoza, winner of last year’s final leg at Wack Wack, carded a 73 for 17th at 292 while Asian Tour No. 1 Juvic Pagunsan, also the reigning Order of Merit champion on the ICTSI PGT, ended up in 27th place at 296 after a 71.