Lascuña three shots off; Juvic, Frankie waver

Tony Lascuña brandished a superb putting stroke that produced five birdies, including one on No. 18 that spiked a three-under par 69 as he put himself in contention for one of the five British Open berths staked in The Open International Final Qualifying at the Sentosa Golf Club in Singapore yesterday.

With top ranked Frankie Miñoza and Asian Tour 2006 top rookie Juvic Pagunsan groping for form, the 36-year-old Lascuña frolicked under near-ideal playing condition in the early morning tee-off and enjoyed steady putting with four birdies to negate his double-bogey mishap on the par-4 No. 11. He ended his day on a high note with a birdie on the 18th for a 34-35 card.

Miñoza strung up three straight birdies from No. 5 to negate a bogey mishap on No. 2 but the fancied Filipino shotmaker double-bogey No. 11 for a 72 for a share of 31st, while Pagunsan dropped three shots on the par-3 No. 5 and made five birdies against four bogeys and virtually kissed his British Open bid goodbye with a 74.

Lascuña actually shared the clubhouse lead with Korean youngster Park Jun-won but settled for joint eighth, three shots adrift, after Adam Groom of Australia and Indian Rahil Gangjee came through with identical 66s late in the afternoon to wrest control.

Angelo Que and Artemio Murakami both carded 70s for joint 12th with eight others.