Lascuña, Dumandan share lead with 65

MANILA, Philippines - Tony Lascuña matched Marvin Dumandan’s nine-birdie burst in a low scoring day at Royal Northwoods yesterday as they shared the lead at seven-under 65, two clear of fancied Juvic Pagunsan at the start of the ICTSI Royal Northwoods Championship in San Rafael, Bulacan.

Lascuña, one of the best pros never to win a leg on the two-year old ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour, rattled off five birdies at the backside for a closing 31 and that 65 in a late afternoon start, matching Dumandan’s own version of a 33-32 card fashioned out in a windless, early morning flight.

Those 65s tied the course record set by Rey Pagunsan in the final round in last year’s inaugural staging of the event, organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., ruled by Ferdie Aunzo.

With Juvic Pagunsan lurking just two shots behind at 67 and a slew of others staying just a stroke or two behind, a wide open battle for the top P200,000 purse loomed in the last 36 holes of the P1 million event sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

The joint leaders said it will all boil down to putting.

“If I can putt the way I did today (yesterday), I think I’ll have a chance (for title),” said Lascuña, who made 28 putts despite fumbling with a three-putt bogey on No. 3, in Filipino.

The power-hitting Dumandan, in search of the form that netted him the ICTSI-Sherwood leg title early in the year, finally found his rhythm and the putting touch that produced eight birdies inside 8 feet, giving him the early lead in the 11th leg of the 13-stage circuit.

“I have been hounded by poor putting in my last few tournaments but finally, it clicked today,” said the Davao shotmaker, who used his putter just 27 times, in Filipino.

Dumandan, coming off three missed cuts on the Asian Tour, actually opened his bid in this 11th leg of the 13-stage ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour with a birdie on the par-5 No. 1 but reeled back when he drove out of bounds on the par-4 No. 4.

But Dumandan strung up three straight birdies, added a pair linking both nines then knocked down three more in the last six holes to complete a 33-32 round.

Lascuña, who missed the cut stint only once in around 50 local and international tournaments this year, matched Dumandan’s opening birdie and also came up with a three-birdie binge from No. 6. He, however, dropped a stroke on No. 9 before taming the backside with that 31.

While Lascuña and Dumandan made some noise with those 65s, Juvic Pagunsan quietly put himself in contention with a bogey free 67, a 33-34 card that kept the Order of Merit leader on track for a third crown after topping the Riviera and Apo legs of the circuit.

Benjie Magada, chasing a follow-up to his playoff victory over Lascuña at ICTSI-Orchard, fired a 68 while Rey Pagunsan, bidding to complete what he had failed to achieve here last year, shot a 69 for joint fifth with reigning Philippine Open champion and ICTSI-Mt. Malarayat winner Elmer Salvador, little known Richard Abaring and amateur Richard Joson.

Jay Bayron, winner of the last ICTSI-PGT leg at the Aboitiz Invitational in Cebu last month, carded a 70 for a seven-way tie for ninth with ICTSI-Forest Hills leg winner Mars Pucay, Christopher delos Santos, Anthony Fernando, Gene Bondoc and Edgar Ababa and amateur Dante Becierra.

Seven others turned in 71s, including rookie pros Antonio Asistio II and Rufino Bayron, while five players, led by Gerald Rosales and Richard Sinfuego, matched par at the par-72 layout, which practically lay defenseless with the absence of the wind.

Aunzo, who held on to a one-shot victory over Rey Pagunsan last year, lost in the face of the big guns’ charge as he limped with a 39 on his homeward trip at the front, finishing with a 75, 10 strokes behind.

The 54-hole tournament is backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Jaguar, Land Rover, Studio 23, Balls TV, Srixon/Cleveland Golf, Callaway Golf, Odyssey and Golf Punk and media partners Business Mirror, Inquirer Golf Monthly, A Round of Golf, Pinoygolfer.com and Omnisource.