Lascuña again a title threat in Taipei golf

TAIPEI—Antonio Lascuña again moved in contention for his first Asian Tour title by shooting a second straight 3-under-par 69 to climb into a tie for second, just a stroke behind new leader Steve Lewton of England after the third round of the $650,000 Mercuries Taiwan Masters on Saturday.

A playoff loser to Thailand’s Chapchai Nirat in the Worldwide Selangor Masters in Malaysia two weeks ago, Lascuña wheeled into position for a breakthrough win with a 213 total like overnight leader Adilson Da Silva of Brazil, who posted a 72 at the challenging Taiwan Golf and Country Club’s Tamsui course.

Lewton continued his consistent form by carding a 70 (34-36) for 212.

Lascuña actually held the lead with a sizzling front nine 31 where he birdied five of his first seven holes. He was ahead by a shot over Lewton going into the backside but bogeys on the 12th and 16th holes pulled him down to second.

“The birdies on the front nine really got my game going today. I looked at the leaderboard at the turn and saw my name up there. I was really excited but I kind of lost the momentum after the bogey on the 12th hole. I lost my focus and ended up with another bogey on the 16th,” said Lascuña, who is the top Filipino in the Asian Order of Merit at No. 4.

Lascuña previously finished second here in 2012 and tied for eighth last year.

Angelo Que, a three-time Asian Tour winner, rallied with a 71 and advanced into a tie for 16th at 219 while Elmer Salvador, the only other Filipino to make the cut, was a stroke behind at 220 after a 75.

Tour rookie Cameron Smith of Australia and countryman Unho Park were in prime position to win their first Asian Tour title as well after shooting identical 70s to share fourth place on 214.  Asian Tour News