Lascuña, Que in contention for Johor title

NUSAJAYA, Johor, Malaysia—Antonio Lascuña and Angelo Que moved into contention when the second round of the weather-interrupted $2 million Iskandar Johor Open ended early afternoon Saturday with officials deciding to reduce the event to 54 holes with today’s third round serving as the final 18 holes of play.

Firing a second straight 4-under-par 68, Lascuña joined a four-way tie for third place at 136, just two strokes behind new leader Daniel Chopra of Sweden, who was at 10-under 134 with rounds of 68-66 at the Horizon Hills Golf and Country Club.

Que added a 70 to his opening 67 and was three shots off the lead at 137 in a six-way for seventh place in the season-ending tournament on the Asian Tour.

Elmer Salvador, with rounds of 70-73, made the halfway cut at 143 but Frankie Miñoza (72-76), Miguel Tabuena (75-75) and Mars Pucay (76-77) bowed out.

Chopra was a stroke ahead of three-time Asian Tour winner Chapchai Nirat of Thailand, who signed for a 67, while  Lascuña was tied with India’s S.S.P. Chowrasia, Australia’s Unho Park and Korean-American David Lipsky.

“The multiple disruptions that were caused by the weather throughout the week made it a challenge for the tournament to be completed over 72 holes. As such, we have taken the decision to reduce the tournament to 54 holes,” said Wanchai Meechai, Asian Tour’s tournament director for the Iskandar Johor Open.

Chopra, who won his first professional title at the 1993 Johor Open and was pipped to the title by Joost Luiten of the Netherlands last year,  did not start his second round on Friday but the two-time PGA Tour winner quickly made up for lost time by marking his flawless card with six birdies when he returned in the morning.

He was especially delighted that he managed to complete his round right at the dot when the sirens blew for a play suspension at 1:45 p.m. that lasted nearly three hours.

Lascuna will be bidding to go one better after he claimed his second runner-up finish in six seasons on the Asian Tour in September this year. Asian Tour News