Lascuña ties rookie Gialon for ICTSI lead

BACOLOD—Tony Lascuña played true to form and turned in a bogey-less four-under 66, tying rookie Zanie Boy Gialon at the helm, as erstwhile leader James Ryan Lam turned in an awful 75 in the second round of the ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic here yesterday.

Lascuña  rallied from three strokes down with a closing three-under 32 at the front in one of the late flights at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club.

The duo lead Elmer Saban and Clyde Mondilla by three.

Lascuña barely missed grabbing the solo lead with a couple of flubbed birdie putts in the last four holes.

Still, his 66 and a 36-hole haul of 134 put him on line for another win after bagging the Eagle Ridge and Manila Southwoods crowns.

This time, however, Lascuña will have a rookie rival standing in his bid for a third title in the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

“I’ll just play my game, go to my routine and hope for the best,” said the 22-year-old Gialon, who matched Lascuña’s output in the first two days but also missed taking the solo lead with a faltering finish.

Gialon, who shot a 31 at the frontside Wednesday, did much better yesterday, scoring a tournament-best 29, completing a three-birdie string from No. 4 for the second straight day.

He chipped in for another birdie on No. 11 for a seven-under card and could’ve pulled away from the field if not for a shaky finish marred by three bogeys on the last holes. He wound up with a 66.

Gialon turned pro early this year in the ICTSI Philippine Open where he missed the cut by just one at Wack Wack.

After shooting a flawless 64 in the first round, Lam looked headed for another solid round when he birdied No. 2 for the second straight day. But after a slew of pars in the next four holes, he dropped a stroke on No. 7 then blew it all at the back with four bogeys with no birdie to show for a 75.

He slipped to joint eighth at 139, five strokes off the pace.