Lascuña stays in hunt; Pagunsan falters

Manila, Philippines - Tony Lascuna bounced back with a four-under 68 and stayed in title hunt as erstwhile joint leader Juvic Pagunsan stumbled with a 73 in the third round of the Negeri Sembilan Masters Invitational paced by local bet Airil Rizman in Seremban, Malaysia yesterday.

Lascuna, tied with Rizman and three others at the start of the rain-delayed second round jointly held by Pagunsan and Thais Varut Chomchalam and Attaphon Prathummanee, recovered from a roller-coaster frontside stint of three birdies against two bogeys as he birdied the first three holes at the back en route to a 35-33 card.

He pooled a 205, 11-under at the Seremban International Golf Club, for a share of second with Malaysian Danny Chia, who also shot a 68, and Prathummanee, who made a 70, heading into the final round of the $165,000 event serving as the fourth leg of the ASEAN PGA Tour.

Rizman eagled the par-5 18th to cap a solid backside effort of 31 as he broke out of a four-way tie for the solo lead at 203.

Pagunsan, who bucked a bogey start Friday to fire seven birdies for a 66 and a share of the lead, failed to do the same this time, making two birdies against two bogeys at the front and dropped another stroke on No. 17 to complete a birdie-less backside for a 73. He tumbled down to joint seventh with a 208, five strokes adrift.

Angelo Que birdied two of the first three holes, fumbled with a bogey on No. 4 but birdied the next four holes before settling for pars at the back for a 67 and a 210 for a share of 11th.

Mars Pucay made a triple-bogey seven on No. 10 but eagled the 18th for a 73 and a 211 while Elmer Salvador carded a 74 for a 212. Artemio Murakami had a 213 after a 71 while Antonio Asistio II and Jay Bayron both had 216 after a 70 and 71, respectively.