Antonio Lascuña finished with a bogey from the trap that left him with a 3-under-par 69 but remained on top by one stroke halfway through the P3.5 million ICTSI Pilipinas Invitational yesterday at Manila Southwoods’ Legends course in Carmona, Cavite .
Lascuña, who started with a 65, posted a 36-hole total of 10-under 134, one shot ahead of young Miguel Tabuena and veteran Cassius Casas.
Three players headed by Marvin Dumandan are two off the lead at 136 and four others, including Elmer Salvador and Mars Pucay, trail by three at 137.
Tabuena rallied with a 66 and Casas fired a 67 for 135. Dumandan had a 69 for 136 along with Elmer Saban (67) and Keanu Jahns (68) while Salvador (66) and Pucay (68) moved up at 137 together with Clyde Mondilla (66) and Jhonnel Ababa (66).
Still very much in contention at 138 were Joey Huerva (65) and host club bet Anthony Fernando (69) while Orlan Sumcad (68) and Jay Bayron (71) stood at 139, assuring a spirited battle in the last two rounds for the top P650,000 purse in this third of four P3.5 million events organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments Inc.
“I just had a bad lie on the sand trap on the 18th but overall, I still played good to stay ahead. This is going to be a good fight,” said Lascuña.
All told, 29 players broke par as they tamed the bunker-laded layout in the absence of strong winds.
The 19-year-old Tabuena, who opened with a 69 Wednesday, stood in the middle of the pack with five straight pars but gained on the leaders when he strung up four straight birdies inside five feet from No. 6 for a 32. He added two more birdies on 14 and 18.