Lascuña blows lead, falls by 1

MANILA, Philippines - Tony Lascuña nearly put to naught a solid 31 start with two bogeys at the back, settling for a second straight 69 and joint second with erstwhile leader Adison Da Silva of Brazil, just one stroke behind England’s Steve Lewton in the third round of the Mercuries Taiwan Masters in Chinese Taipei yesterday.

Lascuña went on a binge at the Taiwan Golf and Country Club early, sparked by back-to-back pitch-in birdies from No. 2. He buried three more in the next four holes for a 31 then saved two pars to kick off his backside drive.

But he failed to complete it three-in-row as he bogeyed No. 12 then dropped another stroke on the 16th before scrambling for another par on No. 17 for that 38 and a 69.

With a 213 aggregate, Lascuña gained another crack at a first-ever Asian Tour crown, staying just one shot behind Lewton heading to the final 18 holes of the $650,000 event.

Lascuña, a multiple-leg winner back home, narrowly missed clinching his maiden Asian Tour crown when he lost in a playoff to Thai Chapchai Nirat in the Selangor Masters in Malaysia last month.

Lewton bogeyed No. 16 and carded a 70, barely seizing a one-point lead with a 212 with Da Silva also holing out with a bogey for a 72 and a share of second with Lascuña.

Angelo Que fought back with a 71 and moved from joint 40th to a share of 16th at 219, seven shots adrift, while Elmer Salvador dropped to a share of 18th at 220 after a 75.