Davao veterans vow to end ICTSI golf tour title-drought

MANILA, Philippines—Tony Lascuña, Marvin Dumandan and Cassius Casas, three Davaoeño campaigners who used to lord it over the field, seek to break a long winless spell on the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour as they vie in the BDO Canlubang Golf Invitational unfolding November 9 at Cangolf’s north course in Laguna.

“It’s been a long time (since I last won),” said Lascuña, whose last pro win was in 2007 in the Selangor Masters in Malaysia. “I just couldn’t get the breaks and had been unlucky in at least two tournaments.”

On the local front, the former national champion and Putra Cup individual gold medalist just couldn’t pull it off, settling for four runner-up finishes this year, including a heart-breaking four-hole playoff loss to Robert Pactolerin in the ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic last July.

But heading to the P1 million BDO Cangolf tilt, the penultimate leg of the 16-stage circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc., the 40-year-old is upbeat of his chances on a course he also calls home.

Dumandan, who racked up three leg victories last year, is also due for a win.
He had two second-place efforts this year, losing to Order of Merit pacesetter Juvic Pagunsan at ICTSI Eastridge Classic and finishing in a three-way tie with Elmer Salvador and Lascuña at Aboitiz Invitational.

Like Lascuña, Casas said he couldn’t get the needed breaks in the clutch but the former Philippine Open champion has also failed to unleash a strong finishing kick, losing steam at Aboitiz Invitational (fifth) and ICTSI Riviera Classic (second).

Last week, Casas moved within two shots off Jhonnel Ababa but faded in the final round and ended up sixth.

“It’s just a matter of staying focused. I feel good and hope to contend in Canlubang,” said Casas, who last savored victory at ICTSI Del Monte last year.

Lascuña (No. 5), Dumandan (No. 6) and Casas (No. 8) are the only winless players in the top 8 of the Order of Merit ranking and the pressure to finally end the long title drought builds up heading to the 54-hole event sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.