7-shot Valley romp by sizzling Lascuña
ANTIPOLO—Antonio Lascuña put the finishing touches to an overpowering display of scoring Saturday by shooting a 3-under-par 69 to rule the ICTSI Valley Golf Classic by seven shots over Jonel Ababa at the tree-lined South course here.
Lascuña, who shot a combined 10-under in the middle two rounds, opened up with a bogey but gunned down six birdies the rest of the way to finish with an astounding 16-under 272 over the course that used to be one of the toughest in the country.
It was the second straight Tour win for Lascuña, who pocketed P360,000 and padded his lead in a bid to secure a third straight Order of Merit title. He also won the ICTSI Eagle Ridge Classic in the second week of April then competed in three Asian Tour events where he fared well, capped by a tie for 11th place in the $1.5 million The Championship at Laguna National in Singapore last week.
Ababa, the Player of the Year two years ago who has gone winless since winning three events in 2011, matched Lascuña’s 69 and broke away from first round leader Cassius Casas for runner-up honors.
Casas, who started the day tied with Ababa, fired a 73 even as Miguel Tabuena claimed a fourth place tie with Mars Pucay after shooting a 70 for 285. Pucay fired a 71.
“With a seven-shot lead (going into the final day), I knew that it would be tough for them (Ababa and Casas) to catch up, that’s why it was a pressure-free day for me,” Lascuña said.
The impressive five-tournament swing gave Lascuña the momentum he needs for the $300,000 ICTSI Philippine Open presented by the MVP Sports Foundation and PLDT at Wack Wack East. Although he has yet to win on the Asian Tour, Lascuña goes into the Open set May 15-18 as the top Filipino (tied for third) when it was held last in 2012 with Mardan Mamat of Singapore emerging as champion.
Eric Mina finished with a 70 for 286 while Ferdie Aunzo closed out with a 70 to catch Albin Engino and Elmer Saban, who matched par 72s, and Micah Shin, who sputtered with a 75, at 287.
The other backers of the event, organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc., were Nike Golf, KZG, Titleist, Cleveland, Pacsports, Srixon, Callaway, Sharp, FootJoy and Custom Clubmakers.
