Durable Lascuña closes out with 71 for 26th PGT win

Antonio Lascuna.—CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Showing the stuff that champions are made of, Antonio Lascuña on Friday conquered the elements to win the ICTSI Splendido Taal Championship by a shot over a hard-charging Keanu Jahns, validating his status as the most dominant force on the Philippine Golf Tour (PGT) despite contending with some players half his 53 years of age.

Despite coming into the tournament with only a handful of practice rounds, Lascuña was in his elements, rescuing a one-under-par 71 with a brilliant 72nd hole up-and-down for a 275 total and his 26th leg win.

“I really worked hard to save that par,” Lascuña told the Inquirer in Filipino. “I really feel coming into tournaments that I am a terrible underdog because of my age and the young players who really hit it far.

“I’m just lucky, I guess,” added Lascuña, one of only two players in the field, the other being Jahns, who cracked par on all four rounds.

The win was the second for the year for Lascuña counting his upset triumph over a more talented field in The Country Club Invitational, as Jahns settled for second spot after a brilliant 67.

Crucial Thursday

LJ Go was third two shots behind Jahns after matching par, while Clyde Mondilla turned in the week’s best round, a 64, to tie Go.

Foul weather forced stoppage of play in the second round on Wednesday, and Lascuña, playing out of Manila Southwoods, needed to play 24 holes of flawless golf on Thursday to claim the lead.

Although bogeys came on the 13th and 15th holes of the final round, Lascuña showed steely nerves by saving par on the 16th and that great save from just short of the 18th green for a 2-foot putt for par and the win. —MUSONG R. CASTILLO