Lascuña-Tabuena showdown spices up Summit Classic

MANILA, Philippines - Miguel Tabuena and Tony Lascuña brace not only for a showdown for the ICTSI Summit Point Classic plum but also for the Order of Merit No. 1 as they banner the field in the P1.5 million event firing off today at the Summit Point Golf and Residential Estates in Batangas.

With current money leader Angelo Que begging off this week, No. 2 Tabuena and the third-running Lascuña dispute the top P270,000 purse and the coveted spot in the OOM derby heading to the last three legs of this year’s circuit sponsored by ICTSI.

Tabuena, winner at Splendido and Rancho Palos Verdes, has piled up P1,846,917 in earnings after 11 legs while Lascuña, the reigning three-time OOM winner who scored back-to-back wins late in the season at ICTSI Apo and ICTSI Classic last month, is just behind with P1,814,960.

Que, who dominated the field at Eastridge and Anvaya, leads the pack with P1,937,131 in winnings but is expected to yield the top spot on a victory by either Tabuena or Lascuña this week.

“It will be tough. Miguel is playing great golf but I’m also playing quite well lately. I will be there fighting,” said Lascuña, who rallied with a 65 to salvage a joint ninth finish at Aboitiz. “It will also be a different challenge at Summit with the wind in play in most holes.”

But a slew of others are out to foil Tabuena and Lascuña’s title drives, headed by Arnold Villanueva, who ended a 27-year chase for a pro crown with a playoff win over Tabuena last year.

No. 4 Elmer Salvador, though far behind with P1,145,979 in earnings, is also in the fold, along with Orlan Sumcad, Clyde Mondilla, former OOM winner Jay Bayron, Ferdie Aunzo, Cassius Casas, Charles Hong, Zanieboy Gialon, Rufino Bayron, Marvin Dumandan, Mars Pucay and Michael Bibat.

Juvic Pagunsan, playing in only his second tournament after a two-and-a-half-year absence, dominated the last ICTSI leg – the Aboitiz Invitational at Southwoods early this month before the pros took a break and clashed in The Duel – North vs South 4 – two weeks ago at Wack Wack where Team South rallied in singles to retain the crown.

From Summit, the tour returns to Wack Wack for the P3.5 million ICTSI Open Championship on Sept. 9-12 and then back to Luisita Golf and Country Club, which hosted the Luisita Championship last May, for the Central Azucarera de Tarlac Open on Sept. 16-19.

The circuit, organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and backed by Custom Clubmakers, Titleist, NikeGolf, Pacsports, Callaway, Srixon, KZG, Sharp and FootJoy, winds up on Sept. 23-26 with the ICTSI Tournament Players’ Championship at Sherwood Hills Golf Club in Cavite.