Lascuña threatens to blow away Apo field

DAVAO—Antonio Lascuña returned a four-under-par 68 on Thursday to hike his lead to seven strokes over Ferdie Aunzo, threatening to turn the P2.5 million ICTSI Apo Golf Invitational into a one-man show at the majestic tree-lined layout in Davao.

The champion of the Nan Pao Open in Taiwan last week, Lascuña drained four of his six birdies inside his last six holes that sealed a 36-32 effort and a 133 aggregate heading into the final 36 holes of the P2.5 million event.

“I just played my usual game and didn’t mind if there’s somebody making a charge,” said Lascuña. “My putting has been clicking the past two weeks.”

Aunzo birdied two of the last four for a 69 as he took the challenger’s role at 140, with Ira Alido rebounding from a wobbly opening 74 with the day’s best, a 67, to be another stroke behind like Ramil Bisera and Dutchman Guido Van der Valk, who carded identical 70s, and Albin Engino, who fumbled with a 73.

In Taiwan, Daniella Uy shot a two-under 70 and moved to joint 15th, still a hefty nine strokes behind local ace, Hsieh Yu Ling, after two rounds of the Party Ladies Golfers Open at National Golf and Country Club.

The former Junior World champion had a 144 total, too far behind new leader Hsieh, who fired a bogey-free 66 to wrest a huge five-stroke lead over compatriot Ching Ling Chang at 135 in the $100,000 event.