Lascuña shoots 67, leads Valley golf by 3

MANILA, Philippines — Antonio Lascuña continued to wax hot with an eagle-spiked 5-under-par 67 Thursday to wrest a three-stroke lead over Jonel Ababa halfway through the P2 million ICTSI Valley Golf Classic at the tree-lined South course in Antipolo.

Coming off impressive finishes in three Asian Tour events, Lascuña bounced back from his only bogey of the round on the 16th with an eagle 3 on the next hole for a 136 total in the event that dangles P360,000 to the champion.

Ababa, winless the last two seasons after chalking up three victories in his rookie year, followed up an opening 69 with a 70 for 139 with first-round leader Cassius Casas another stroke behind with a par 72.

“I played a lot better today overall,” Lascuña, who bombed a 250-yard second shot to within 12 feet of the hole on the 17th, said in Filipino. “It was a good eagle; it made up for a three-putt par on the fifth (another par-5).”

“It will be a good final group tomorrow (with Ababa and Casas),” added Lascuña, who is playing for the fifth straight week  since ruling the ICTSI Tour’s Eagle Ridge leg to wrest the Order of Merit leadership.

Eric Mina and Elmer Saban returned a 68 and 70, respectively, to be at 141, with Carl Santos-Ocampo firing a second straight 71 for 142.

Robert Pactolerin, the 53-year-old former Philippine Open and PH Masters champion, cracked par with a 70 to vault into contention at 143, tied with Albin Engino and Micah Shin, who fired 70 and 73, respectively.

They were the only ones left with subpar cards even as Charles Hong rallied with a 70 for 145 and remained with a mathematical chance at winning a second straight title after his stirring come-from-behind win at Sherwood Hills two weeks ago.

The event is backed by Nike Golf, KZG, Titleist, Cleveland, Pacsports, Srixon, Callaway, Sharp, FootJoy and Custom Clubmakers.