Aboitiz Invt’l tees off; Lascuña seeks No. 3

CARMONA, Cavite—Antonio Lascuña opens defense of his Aboitiz Invitational crown Tuesday while also seeking to win three straight titles for the first time in his career against a high-powered field at Manila Southwoods’ Legends course.

With the course in perfect shape and primed for low scoring, Lascuña seeks a followup victory to his title conquests at Apo Golf and Mount Malarayat in a course he knows like the back of his hand.

Former Asian Tour overall champion Juvic Pagunsan plays just his second tournament on the local tour and is installed as one of the favorites.

In 2012, Pagunsan abandoned the same tournament even before it started at Cebu Country Club after he refused to register his personal caddy for the event.

He was suspended by the Philippine Golf Tour a couple of months later for conduct unbecoming when he left his team in the singles matches of The Duel at Alabang Country Club.

The country’s big guns—including last-minute entry Angelo Que—are seeing action.

Miguel Tabuena, the ageless Frankie Miñoza and inaugural Aboitiz champion Jay Bayron will also try to extend the country’s domination in the event.

Filipinos have won the first four editions of this $100,000 event, with Elmer Salvador ruling the 2012-2013 editions, also in Cebu, and Lascuña prevailing last year at Riviera.

Chinese Taipei’s Hsieh Chi-hsien, the Asian Development Tour’s Order of Merit leader, heads the foreign challenge.