Lascuña fends off Casas, keeps 2-shot lead

CARMONA, Cavite, Philippines – Tony Lascuña slowed down with a four-under 68 after a 64 but remained two-up over a steady Cassius Casas as the rest of the fancied and unheralded bets floundered halfway through the Manila Southwoods Championship at Southwoods’ Legends course here yesterday.

Spared of another delay due to lightning in the afternoon, Lascuña made the most of the switch in tee-times, matching his opening backside stint of 32, including three straight birdies from No. 16 and a birdie-blast on the 18th for a 36-32 card. He assembled a two-day haul of 12-under 132.

He actually went five-under after back-to-back birdies from No. 7 that negated a bogey on No. 4 but the reigning Order of Merit champion, who bucked poor driving with superb iron shots and steady putting, stumbled with a bogey on the ninth after failing to return a bending six-footer.

Still, it kept Lascuña on track for a second straight championship in this P2.5 million event he ruled by two shots over Angelo Que last year although this time, he will have to do it against a former ace trying to make a comeback of sorts from a long spell on the circuit sponsored by International Container Terminals Services, Inc.

“My driving was off, I lacked confidence, resulting in a lot of fade shots off the mound,” said Lascuña, who rolled in birdies in close range on Nos. 13, 16 and 17 in Pilipino. “It’s a good thing that I made a lot of putts for birdies.”

He will need more of those as the chase for the top P450,000 purse heats up in today’s pivotal third round with a fired-up Casas pooling his best 36-hole output in years and threatening at 10-under 134 after back-to-back five-under 67s.

“I missed the winning feeling,” said Casas, who dominated the local circuit in the late 90s and early 2000s but went on a slump the last few years, his last victory coming two years ago due to the disqualification of three leading players at the Del Monte leg of the Philippine Golf Tour. “I’ve been practicing a lot and trying to be patient with my game.”

He has also put a lot of time working on his putting stroke, saying: “Even at home, I do a lot of putting drills. I really missed winning.”

Rufino Bayron, still in search of a breakthrough win after humbling the pros as an amateur at Valley in late 2009, came out of an hour-long delay in sizzling form, closing out with four straight birdies at the front for a six-under 66. With a nine-under 135 aggregate, Bayron joins Lascuña and Casas in the final group today.

Sherwood leg champion Miguel Tabuena also used a 32 at the back to fire a 68 but stood five strokes behind Lascuña at 137 while Ferdie Aunzo slowed down with a 71 after a 67, to drop to 138 in a tie with Jhonnel Ababa and Marvin Dumandan, also seeking to snap a long skid, who had a 68 and 69, respectively.

Dante Becierra rallied with a 67 to join Ababa, Aunzo and Dumandan at fifth.

Some, however, failed to sustain their hot start, including Mhark Fernando, who hobbled with a 73 after a 66, and Japanese Tomokazu Yoshinaga, who settled for par 72 after a 67, for 139s in a tie with Rolando Marabe, who matched par 72, Frankie Miñoza (69), Gerald Rosales (71), Mars Pucay (68) and Elmer Salvador, who charged back from an opening 73 with a 66.

Jay Bayron shot the day’s best of seven-under 65 to join the big group at 139.

Forty-four players made the cut at 146 with Jun Bernis (72), Richard Sinfuego (75), Joseph Suarez (72), Paul Echavez (75), Chris Mamaril (70) and Edward Reyes (69) making it to the final 36 holes of the event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

Other backers of the event are Nike Golf, Srixon, Custom Clubmakers, Pacsports, Cleveland Golf, Callaway, Ping, Mizuno, Empire Golf and Sports Shop, FootJoy, Titleist, Sharp, BMW and Gergia Energy Foods.