MANILA, June 24 — Tony Lascuña on Saturday , scored a final round of 70 for a three-stroke victory at the at the Forest Hills Golf and Country Club in Antipolo.
“I played according to plan – stay in control and stay focused throughout,” said Lascuña after making it two-in-row here with an 11-under 273 total worth PHP 550,000 in the event sponsored by ICTSI.
The victory also firmed up Lascuña’s hold of the Order of Merit lead with PHP 1,997,702 in earnings heading to the last six legs of the circuit backed by Custom Clubmakers, BDO, Meralco, Sharp, KZG, PLDT, Champion, Summit Mineral Water and K&G Golf.
Zanieboy Gialon carded a second straight 69 for a 276 and took the PHP370,000 runner-up prize.
Miguel Tabuena, five behind at the start of the final round of the PHP 3 million event sponsored by ICTSI, tried to give chase with a birdie on the seventh but like Ababa, the young top gun faded with a bogey on the 10th. He ended up with a 71 for third at 279 worth PHP215,000.
Gialon bounced back from a one-over frontside card with three straight birdies at the back but the recent Calatagan leg winner could only move no closer than three as he slowed down with missed putts and ended up runner-up for the second straight time.
In contrast, Lascuña ran off seven pars to launch his final round charge then closed out the front nine with back-to-back birdies and pulled away by six. He birdied No. 11 to hold off a charging Gialon and though he stumbled with a wet 6 on the par-4 No. 12, he found no need for a spectacular finish, his run of pars securing a follow-up to his Manila Masters victory at Eastridge last April for another championship to his vast trophy collection.
“I was so confident even if I double-bogeyed No. 12,” said Lascuña, whose victory also erased the stigma of a string of runner-up finishes in the three of the last four legs of the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
Jnnel Ababa hobbled struggled with 74 and slid to joint fourth with Nilo Salahog, who rallied with a 67, at 280 worth P230,000 each while Ferdie Aunzo, just one behind Lascuña halfway through the rich event, ended up with a second 73 and fell to sixth at 282. He received PHP115,000.
Rookie pro Ira Alido made another final round foldup, hoping it would toughen him up in his next tournaments, limping with a 77 and tumbling to seventh at 283 worth PHP100,000.
Jay Bayron rebounded with a 68 and snared eighth place at even 284 while Elmer Salvador carded a 70 for ninth at 285 while Korean Hwang Myung Chal fired a 70 to tie Frankie Miñoza, who made a 72, and Jobim Carlos, who stumbled with a 73, at 286 for joint 10th. (Primo P. Agatep/PNA)
