Lascuña blows field by 11 shots

Antonio Lascuña. INQUIRER GOLF

ANTONIO Lascuña didn’t let up one bit Saturday, closing out with a four-under-par 67 for a record 11-stroke win in the ICTSI Forest Hills Invitational in Antipolo, Rizal.

The 46-year-old Lascuña, playing out of Southwoods, finished off the dumbfounded field with a 34-33 effort for his third title of the season as Zannie Boy Gialon and Orlan Sumcad shared second after a 67 and 70, respectively.

With earlier efforts of 65, 64 and 72, Lascuña tallied 268 over the up-and-down layout where he had 21 total birdies, a triple bogey, four bogeys and an eagle on the par-5 70th hole yesterday that totally blew the field away.

Counting victories at Calatagan and Luisita, Lascuña moved within two wins of a banner 2014 season when he won the last of three straight Order of Merit titles.

“I have been working hard to improve,” Lascuña said after the win. “It’s very nice to win again.”

The veteran Jay Bayron returned a second straight 71 and finished 12 shots behind, while Michael Bibat, the former Asian Games bronze medalist who was just six shots behind the eventual champion after the second round, fired a 72 for 281.

Mars Pucay and Rene Menor caught Bibat after  a 70 and 69, respectively, with Marvin Dumandan, who fired a 73, winding up with a 282.

The Binitin layout in Murcia town will host the next Philippine Golf Tour event on July 6-9.