Lascuña bounces back with 67 for joint 19th

MANILA, Philippines - Tony Lascuña rebounded from a 73 with a five-under 67 and climbed from a share of 51st to joint 19th halfway through the Thailand Golf Championship still paced by Welshman Jamie Donaldson at the Amata Spring Country Club in Chonburi yesterday.

Lascuña, priming up for next week’s Philippine Open at Luisita, birdied three of the first five holes at the back where he started and opened the frontside with three straight birdies but missed further improving his ranking when he bogeyed the par-5 seventh on an errant drive.

But his 34-33 card proved enough to put him back in contention at 140 although he stood nine strokes behind Donaldson, who slowed down with a 68 after a sizzling 63 for a 131 heading to the weekend play of the $1 million event serving as the penultimate leg of this year’s Asian Tour.

Martin Kaymer of Germany fired a 65 and took the challenger’s role at 133 while Spain’s Sergio Garcia shot a 69 and stayed on course for a second straight win at 135 for joint third with Matthew Fitzpatrick of England and Thai Chinnarat Phadungsil, who carded a 67 and 69, respectively.

Garcia dominated last week’s $1.5 million Ho Tram Open in Vietnam.

Juvic Pagunsan also improved from a 72 with a 70 and joined 11 others at 38th with a 142 while Angelo Que, the best Filipino scorer in the first round with a 69, floundered with a 74 on five bogeys against three birdies, dropping to a share of 50th at 143 from joint 12th.

Miguel Tabuena, however, hardly recovered from a 76 with a 73 and missed the cut at 144.