On-target Lascuña fires 70, grabs Manila Masters lead

Antonio Lascuña/ INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

Tony Lascuña defied blustery winds to card a two-under-par 70 Thursday and post a two-stoke lead over Dutch Guido Van der Valk halfway through the ICTSI Manila Masters at Eastridge Golf Club.

Banking on a solid short game and superb putting, Lascuña canned four birdies against two bogeys to surge ahead with a 139 total in the P3-million event bankrolled by ICTSI.

Erstwhile leaders Benjie Magada and Justin Quiban, who shot 68s Wednesday, tumbled in separate flights with Magada way off at 79-147 and Quiban closer at 74-142.

“I played relatively good. Everything’s in place, especially my putting,” said Lascuña, who topped five legs to emerge Order of Merit king in last year’s edition of the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

“Hopefully, I’ll be able to sustain my form and break the jinx here,” added Lascuña, who has yet to win at Eastridge.

Van der Valk fired a bogey-free 69 to post the day’s best score and take second spot at 141, one up on American Nicolas Paez, who matched par, and Quiban.

“My putting was awful,” said the 21-year-old Quiban, who’s chasing a maiden victory in the circuit. “I hit all the greens at the back but failed to hit a single birdie.”

Forty players entered the money chase at five-over 149 with Angelo Que and Clyde Mondilla, champions in the last two years, as the biggest casualties.

The Japan PGA Tour-bound Que, winner of the event in 2015, shot 79 for 150 while Mondilla, the reigning titlist, also skied to a 79 for 155.

Cassius Casas birdied the par-5 18th for the second straight day to card a 71 and join American Josh Salah, who also shot a 71 for 143.

The revered Frankie Miñoza also shot a 71 to tie Jay Bayron, who made 72, Mhark Fernando (71), and Rene Menor (73) at 144.

Japanese Genki Okada skied to a 76 to fall to joint 11th with Elmer Salvador and Korean-American Micah Shin, who had 70 and 73, respectively.

Also barely making the cut were Gerald Rosales (75), Anthony Fernando (72), Marvin Dumandan (72), Omar Dungca (72), and Charles Hong (78), among others. —ROY LUARCA