Record-tying 64 gives Lascuña share of Nan Pao lead

TAINAN, Taiwan—Antonio Lascuña Jr. bounced back from an opening bogey to shoot a course record-tying eight-under-par 64 on Friday and forge a three-way tie for the lead halfway through the $100,000-Nan Pao Open here.

The 48-year-old Lascuña hit nine birdies the rest of the way, five of them coming on a string from No. 9 to highlight a 33-31 card for a 133 aggregate like local bets Liu Yu Jui and Lee Cho-Chuan.

“I still have what it takes,” Lascuña said in jest after the round. “I really know that I can score on this course.”

Lee eagled his last hole, the ninth, for a 67, while Liu signed for a double bogey on the 17th and still was able to save a 66 to join the logjam at the top.

Erstwhile leader, Taiwanese-American Lein Benjamin, fired a 69 to be at 134, while Thailand’s Sattaya Supupramai and Taiwanese Wang Jen Li assembled similar 68s to be at 135.

Jay Bayron, the other Filipino in the talented field, submitted a 71 to be at 139.

Big-hitting Sean Talmadge, a Fil-Am rookie pro from Hillsborough, California, also made it to weekend play with a bogey-free 68 for 140, seven shots out of the pace and still with a solid shot.