Surging Lascuña loses in playoff

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines took another beating from Thailand on the Asian Tour as Tony Lascuña failed to sustain a stirring comeback in regulation and lost to Chapchai Nirat in the playoff in the Selangor Masters in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia yesterday.

Lascuña put in a mind-boggling bogey-free, eagle-spiked 63 to rally from joint 15th and force a playoff with Nirat, who bogeyed the last two holes for a 68, enabling the Filipino ace to tie at 274 at the close of the 72-hole championship at the Seri Selangor Golf Club.

But Lascuña misread a par-putt bid from five feet on the first playoff hole and Nirat took the cue, drilling his own putt from four feet to clinch the crown worth $72,670 and frustrate Lascuña from nailing his maiden Asian Tour win.

“I saw it as a straight putt and I hit a good putt but it turned left at the end,” said Lascuña, who earlier scorched the par-72 layout with an eagle on the reachable No. 6 and six birdies.

He won 44,409 (P1.95 million).

“Despite my loss, I’m still happy, especially with a closing 63 which is my lowest on the Asian Tour,” said Lascuña.

The setback came a week after Miguel Tabuena dropped a similar playoff setback to Prom Meesawat in the Yeangder Players Championship where the young Filipino muffed shots and putts from close range in the final two holes and where Lascuña wound up third.

Jay Bayron carded a 73 and Angelo Que hobbled with a 74 as they tied for 36th with four others at 287 worth $2,627 each while Mars Pucay fumbled with a 75 for joint 53rd at 292.