Manila Masters on; in-form Lascuña top bet

MANILA, Philippines — Reigning Order of Merit champion Antonio Lascuña shoots for a third title in the ICTSI Tour as a virtual underdog in the Manila Masters which tees off Tuesday at the rolling Eastridge course in Binangonan, Rizal, with the pretournament hype focused on a slew of big stars who have yet to make an impact.

The current No. 8 in the Asian Tour Order of Merit, Lascuña is the natural choice as favorite, having won the local tour’s Eagle Ridge and Valley events to remain on top of the OOM race again.

Aside from veterans Angelo Que and Frankie Miñoza, Rufino Bayron has been installed among the list of contenders after ruling the ICTSI Orchard championship early this month, although he will be coming from a poor outing last week in the ADT Tour stop in Kuala Lumpur where he missed the halfway cut.

Canadian Rick Gibson, the former Philippine Open champion who calls the country home, leads a compact list of foreign bets chasing the P650,000 top prize from the P3.5 million kitty.

The 72-hole event also gives Ferdie Aunzo, the former PH Team spearhead who has struggled in the past two years, the perfect chance to snap a long slump with the tournament to be played on a course he knows too well.

The reedy Aunzo has struggled and failed to make the cut most of the time. Of the big guns, Que, Miñoza and Tabuena are all seeking their first victories for the year.

The 54-year-old Miñoza has gone from here to the Japan tour and back in the last two months and the superstar from Bukidnon seemed ready for a big show this time. The event is being backed by Nike Golf, Pacsports, Srixon and FootJoy.