5-birdie binge gives Lascuña 5-shot edge

CARMONA, Cavite , Philippines   â€“ Tony Lascuña used a blistering start to card a five-under 67 in sweltering heat, virtually scuttling his rivals’ bid with a whopping five-stroke lead over Miguel Tabuena, Rufino Bayron and Cassius Casas in the third round of the P2.5 million ICTSI Manila Southwoods Championship at the Southwoods’ Legends layout here yesterday.

“I’m in the lead, that’s my advantage. I’ll just play my usual game tomorrow (today),” said Lascuña in Pilipino.

For many, however, his round yesterday, particularly his start, was exceptional. Two up on Casas halfway through the P2.5 million 11th leg of the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour, Lascuña birdied the first five holes in scorching fashion and made the turn at six-under 30, storming to leads of as many as seven over Casas and Bayron.

Though he closed out with a rather shaky one-over 37 at the back, the dusky Davaoeño shotmaker remains way ahead at 19-under 199  – five strokes ahead of Tabuena (67), Bayron (69) and Casas (70) and 18 holes away from pocketing the top P450,000 purse and retaining the crown he won over Angelo Que last year.

Five strokes behind after 36 holes, Tabuena turned in his best card in three days – a bogey-free 67 – but the ICTSI Sherwood Hills winner still stood from where he started at the end of the day – five off at 12-under 204.

“Against Tony (Lascuña), I have to go very low (today). No more, no less,” said Tabuena, who birdied Nos. 3, 7, 8, 14 and 17.

Bayron, still chasing a maiden pro win in four years, went 13-under with a birdie from close range on the 17th but bogeyed the par-4 18th for the second straight day and missed grabbing solo second. He wound up with a 69.

Casas, who sparked hopes of a big weekend for the country’s former No. 1 when he opened with a pair of 67s, drove out of bounds on the first hole to reel back but fought back with an 8-foot eagle putt on the par-5 No. 6 and hit four birdies against two bogeys to salvage a 70.

While Tabuena said he would need a spectacular round to overhaul a five-shot deficit and nail a second crown in the circuit sponsored by ICTSI, Casas simply said it can still be done but refused to say how.

“Kaya pa yan,” he said.