Davao bet clinches OOM crown: Lascuña coasts to nine-shot triumph

MANILA, Philippines - Tony Lascuña capped a banner year with an imposing nine-stroke victory in the P2.5 million ICTSI Wack Wack Championship, closing out with a 72 and outclassing a stellar field to claim the coveted Order of Merit crown at Wack Wack’s East course yesterday.

With the title virtually bagged after posting a huge seven-point lead over Elmer Salvador and Angelo Que after three rounds, Lascuña settled for two birdies and the same number of bogeys, his even-par card highlighting not only a brilliant campaign in the richest leg of the ICTSI Philippine Golf but also in the entire season.

He wound up with an eight-under 280 total, pocketed the top P450,000 purse and wrapped up the OOM crown with a total earnings of P2.25 million, emerging the lone three-leg winner in the 15-stage circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

The ace Davaoeño shotmaker, also the highest-ranked Filipino at No. 12 at the end of this year’s Asian Tour, basked in glory when he received his paycheck with wife Sheryl and seven-year-old daughter Shan Antonette from Wack Wack Golf and Country Club president Dr. Philip Ella Juico during awards rites graced by ICTSI PR manager Narlene Soriano and PGTI general manager Colo Ventosa.

“This is definitely the best year of my life since I started to play golf at 12,” said Lascuña, who also topped the ICTSI Eagle Ridge and Manila Southwoods legs this year.

The victory and the OOM title win also came four days before he celebrates his 42nd birthday.

“It’s nice to celebrate my birthday with a victory here, it’s quite an experience,” said Lascuña.

Salvador, who had hoped for a victory to get a crack at the second OOM title, ended up with a birdie-less 74 after matching Lascuña’s opening 37 but still finished solo second at 289 as Que hobbled with a closing 40 for a 78 and tumbled down to joint sixth at 293.

Salvador, the Order of Merit winner in 2009, took home P320,000 and finished second in the OOM race with total winnings of P1.6 million.

Make the victory a fitting birthday gift for himself too.

Clyde Mondilla also matched par on another challenging day and tied for third with two-leg winner Zanie Boy Gialon, who had a 73, at 291 worth P180,000 each while last year’s champion Frankie Miñoza took solo fifth at 292 after a 73 for P110,000.

James Ryan Lam and Carl Santos-Ocampo joined Que in sixth after a 75 and 77, respectively, while Arnold Villacencio shot a 70 to salvage a share of ninth place with Richard Sinfuego, who had a 74, at 295.

Miguel Tabuena, who had a fine start of two wins in the first six legs of the ICTSI-sponsored circuit, skied to a 76 and wound up 15th with a 299 while Juvic Pagunsan carded a 73 to finish at joint 28th with Richard Abaring, who had a 75, and Terence Macatangay, who made a 78, at 306.

The other backers of the event were Empire Golf, Titleist, Footjoy, Callaway, TaylorMade, Mizuno, Srixon, Nike Golf, Custom Clubmakers and Sharp with Balls, Studio 23, Pinoygolfer.com and Inquirer Golf as media partners.