Lascuña seizes three-stroke lead

ANTIPOLO – Tony Lascuña fired an eagle-aided five-under par 67 to seize a three-stroke lead against Jhonnel Ababa in the second round of the  ICTSI Valley Golf Challenge at the Valley Golf Club here yesterday.

Feeling recharged after struggling with exhaustion in the last nine holes of Wednesday’s opening round, Lascuña put up a fiery performance touched off by a birdie-birdie binge and spiked by an eagle on the par -5 No. 17 to check in with the day’s best round of 33-34.

Lascuña vaulted into the top of the leaderboard with his eight-under 136, going three-up against Ababa, who carded a 70, and four ahead of first-round leader Cassius Casas, who submitted an even 72, at the halfway mark of the the P2 million tournament serving as the fifth leg of the Philippine Golf Tour.

Eric Mina bounced back from a 73 with a fighting 68 to move up nine places to fourth at three-under, tied with Elmer Saban who shot a 70. Carl Santos-Ocampo posted a second straight 71 to be at sixth with a two-under tally.

American Micah Shin (73), Robert Pactolerin (70) and Albin Engino (70) were one stroke back with identical 143s. Elmer Salvador, who was just one shot off the lead in the first round, limped home with a 75 marred by a triple-bogey on the par-4 No. 13. He  plummeted to joint 18th at two-over.

Rufino Bayron (73), Ferdie Aunzo (70), and Orlan Sumcad (69) shared 10th spot with identical 144s.

Lascuña, the reigning back-to-back  Philippine Golf Tour Order of Merit champion and current leader, admitted to feeling tired while tackling the last nine holes of Wednesday’s opening round, where he scored a 69.