Salvador keeps top spot over Lascuña

CARMONA, Cavite—Elmer Salvador remained in command of the ICTSI Southwoods Championship yesterday, shooting a one-under-par 71 for a one-shot lead over a new and solid pursuer in Antonio Lascuña.

The 43-year-old Salvador, who opened with a course record-tying 65 at the Masters layout on Wednesday, mixed four birdies with three bogeys for a 136 total, and barely clung to the top spot after Lascuña returned a 68.

Second-year pro Albin Engino, a former caddy at Marapara in Bacolod, shot a 69 and stood three strokes behind, even as Rufino Bayron scored a 71 to be in the company of rookie pro Clyde Mondilla (73) and the veteran Marvin Dumandan (74) at 142.

Teener Miguel Tabuena returned a 70 like obscure Christopher Delos Santos, and Mark Fernando shot a 71 to all be at 143 heading into the final two rounds of the P2.5 million event that dangles a champion’s purse of P450,000.

Lascuña was nursing a two-under card after his first three holes from the 10th when he badly missed the par-3 17th green for his only bogey. But he recovered at the back by picking up shots on Nos. 4, 6 and 7 to carve out the best round of the day.

Angelo Que, the former Philippine Open champion who once called this course home, continued to struggle and posted a 72 for 146, 10 shots off the pace.

Juvic Pagunsan, the reigning Asian Tour No. 1, also matched par but fell 13 shots off the lead.

The leading scores:

136—E. Salvador 65-71; 137—A. Lascuña 69-68; 139—A. Engino 70-69; 142—R. Bayron 71-71, C. Mondilla 69-73, M. Dumandan 68-74; 143—M. Tabuena 72-71, C. Delos Santos 73-70, M. Fernando 72-71; 144—E. Saban 75-69, C. Hong 75-69, M. Pucay 74-70, C. Casas 71-73, J. Abdon (Am) 70-74; 145—J. Bayron 72-73, J. Rates 71-74, A Fernando 70-75, J. Ababa 70-75, T. Macatangay 67-78, M. Bibat 66-79