More than match play foe, Lascuña wary of TCC layout

Antonio Lascuña —FILE PHOTO

Antonio Lascuña will defend his ICTSI Match Play Invitational crown starting Nov. 21, but unlike last year when the Philippine Golf Tour went back to full swing after the pandemic and he talked confidently heading into the event at tree-lined Villamor, he’s not talking highly of his chances.

“I think I can make it past the first round,” Lascuña told the Inquirer in Filipino while in practice at Manila Southwoods recently.

“After that, I have to get very lucky to survive the next round.”

This year’s edition of the event will be held at the wind-buffeted and ultra-long The Country Club in Laguna, and Lascuña believes that he is one of those stricken off the list of contenders owing to the challenge posed by the layout that could stretch to well over 7,300 yards.

“There are several [par-4] holes that I can’t reach [the green] even with a 3-wood,” the 54-year-old admitted. “I’ve lost a lot of length, and the young players are just hitting it farther than I can.”

The Country Club has been redone to the liking of golf patron Ricky Razon where par-4s, especially those playing against the wind, are playing a full stroke longer even for the best players in the country. INQ