Lascuña, Quiban forge ahead by 3

THE BIG guns wrested control of the P3.5-million ICTSI Luisita Championship Thursday with the veteran Antonio Lascuña and crack rookie Justin Quiban steering three shots clear of the field after bogey-free second-round efforts in Tarlac.

Quiban, who led Manila Southwoods in repeating as PAL Interclub champion last month, gunned down seven birdies in a seven-under 65, while Lascuña had four of his six coming in for a 66 for 136s and a three-shot lead over Japan’s Toru Nakajima.

First-round leader Erwin Arcillas came crashing back to earth after horrendous 79 to be in the middle of the pack with 145. He had a 66 Wednesday.

Clyde Mondilla fired a 69 and caught the jolly Angelo Que at 140, just four strokes behind, on a day the fancied Miguel Tabuena withdrew after three holes because of a painful back.

In the company of Mondilla was obscure Albin Engino, a former caddy at Marapara in Bacolod who carved out a 69 in one of the late flights.

Que fired a 71 like Rufino Bayron, the Davao native who was five shots clear at 141.

Rico Depilo and Orlan Sumcad shot 71s for 142, with Frankie Miñoza and Rick Gibson, who won their Philippine Open titles in the 1990s, carding a 71 and 68, respectively, to keep the leaders within reach at 143 going into the final two rounds of the event that dangles P650,000 to the champion.

Defending champion Charles Hong struggled to a 73 and was in Arcillas’ group at 145, even as Jobim Carlos improved to a 71 from 77 for 148.

“I’m sad that this had to happen,” the 21-year-old Tabuena said of his withdrawal. He played three holes at one-under and didn’t make a bogey in 21 total holes before calling it quits.