Lascuña charges home with 67, leads by 1

CALATAGAN, Batangas, Philippines  â€“ Tony Lascuña blazed through the frontside of the Calatagan Golf Club on his homeward trip and fired an eagle-spiked five-under 67 to wrest a one-stroke lead over Juvic Pagunsan at the start of the P1 million ICTSI Calatagan Challenge at the Calatagan Golf Club here yesterday.

Lascuña actually built a two-shot cushion heading to the par-4 ninth behind a stirring four-birdie binge in a five-hole stretch from No. 4. But the reigning ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour Order of Merit champion missed the green and he failed to return a six-foot putt for par for a 33 and a 67.

Still, it was enough to drive him past Pagunsan, who for a while stood as the solo leader with a four-under 68 spiked by two early eagles on the reachable par-5 Nos. 1 and 4, until Lascuña, bucking a back injury, came charging home with that five-under card.

Lascuña, who placed eighth at ICTSI John Hay two weeks ago, also hit an eagle on the par-5 No. 13 to make the turn at 34 then rattled off three straight birdies from No. 4 and gunned down another on the par-3 No. 8 to negate a closing bogey mishap.

“I still can’t make a full turn but I’m feeling okay now compared to Baguio,” said Lascuña, referring to his back injury that stymied his bid at John Hay. He made a tap-in birdie on No. 4 then banged a 10-footer on the next and holed in a pair of four-footers on the sixth and eighth.

Coming off an impressive stint on the Japan PGA Tour the last two weeks, including a joint fourth place effort in Tsuruya Open, the long-hitting Pagunsan eagled Nos. 1 and 4 in impressive fashion then hit two more birdies against two bogeys for a 33-35 card, putting himself in early contention in one of his rare stints on the local circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

Unfancied Benjie Magada, seeking an end to a long title drought, stormed past Pagunsan at five-under heading to the last three holes at the front. But he stumbled with a three-putt miscue on No. 7 and a missed-green bogey on the next and settled for a 69.

Mars Pucay carded a one-under 71 as only four players broke par on a relatively short but challenging course while seven matched par 72, including Rey Pagunsan, Ruben Sasutil, Jun Bernis, Jhonnel Ababa, Michael Bibat, Marvin Dumandan and defending champion Mhark Fernando.

A host of others stood just a stroke or two behind, ensuring a spirited chase for top honors in the 54-hole championship, the third leg of this year’s 15-stage circuit sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

One fancied player, however, virtually bowed out of the title race early.

Miguel Tabuena, the runaway winner of the kickoff leg at ICTSI Sherwood who lost to Jay Bayron on the second playoff hole at ICTSI Camp John Hay Championship two weeks ago, failed to get going and never recovered from a bogey-marred frontside stint of 41. The 18-year-old find, who went without a bogey from 58 holes in Baguio, shot himself in the foot with an atrocious 80 for joint 52nd and in danger of missing the 40-player cut today.

Jay Bayron also struggled with a 75 while Elmer Salvador hobbled with a 76.

Notes: The  event is backed by Nike Golf, Empire Golf and Sports Shop, Mizuno, Titleist, Srixon, Foot Joy, Callaway, Pacsports, Custom Clubmakers, Cleveland Golf and Sharp with Balls, Studio 23, Pinoygolfer.com and Inquirer Golf as media partners.