Pucay, Lascuña team up in World Cup qualifying

SELANGOR, Malaysia—Filipino veterans Mars Pucay and Antonio Lascuña will team up for the first time in the Omega Mission Hills World Cup Asian Qualifying starting Wednesday at the Seri Selangor Golf Club.

Pucay represented his country in the last two World Cups with Angelo Que but is relishing the new partnership with Lascuña, who played in the 2007 World Cup with Gerald Rosales.

Lascuña is in form after finishing tied for third in the recent Worldwide Holdings Selangor Masters.

Asia’s rising stars and battle-hardened veterans are also entered in the tournament where the top three will qualify for
the $7.5-million Omega Mission Hills World Cup in China in November.

Pucay, who claimed a tied 10th placing in the 2008 World Cup with Que, said teamwork and experience are crucial and will outweigh personal records.

“The World Cup has a unique format where you need teamwork for a good result,” said Pucay. “I know Antonio for a long time and we previously teamed up way back during our amateur days, so it will be interesting.”

Gaganjeet Bhulllar and Anirban Lahiri, both highly regarded as the new generation of superstars to emerge from India, are favorites along with Lam Chih Bing and Mardan Mamat, who are bidding to represent Singapore in the World Cup for the fifth time.

A total of 19 teams have signed up for the qualifier at the challenging Seri Selangor Golf Club.

The format of competition at the biennial Omega Mission Hills World Cup Asian Qualifying will be the same as the Omega Mission Hills World Cup.

The first and third rounds will be better ball while the second and final rounds will be alternate shot.

Bangladesh, with the in-form Siddikur, will enter the tournament as the dark horse.