Lascuña catches Bibat on top with a fiery 68

Tony Lascuña. Photo from INQUIRER Golf Facebook.

TRECE MARTIRES, Cavite—Tony Lascuña fired a four-under 68 and tied Michael Bibat in the lead going to the final round of the P3.5-million ICTSI Tournament Players Championship at Sherwood Hills in Cavite.

Lascuña, four shots off Bibat overnight, wrested the lead with a birdie on No. 15 only to bogey the last for nines 32-36 and a 54-hole total of 206.

Bibat cushioned two bogeys with as many birdies and settled for a 72, slipping into a tie with Lascuña in the chase for the winner’s purse of P650,000 in this, the closing leg of the 2015 ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour.

The co-leaders stood just two shots clear of the trio of Orlan Sumcad, Cassius Casas and Clyde Mondilla at 208, ensuring a riveting final round of the event sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

The long-hitting Sumcad birdied four of the first eight holes on the way to a 68, while Casas and the young Mondilla carded matching 69s.

“This is going to be an exciting finish with at least five players bunched together,” Lascuña said. “The key here is a good start. I think a 67 will win it.”

Rey Pagunsan also bounced into contention with a 67 despite a bogey at the last to join Elmer Salvador and Korean expatriate Park Jun-hyeok at 210, just four off the pace. Salvador and Park both fired 71s.

Jhonnel Ababa matched par for 211 with Rufino Bayron another stroke farther adrift, also after a 72. Steve Silva, Contributor