Golf: Lascuña pads lead to seven

Sustaining his superb form, Antonio Lascuña broke par for the third straight day with a one-under 71 Friday to widen his lead to seven shots against Elmer Salvador and Angelo Que heading into the final round of the ICTSI Wack Wack Championship at the Mandaluyong venue’s East course.

Seeking a third title on the tour this year, Lascuña bucked the blustery winds, steadying himself after a bogey on No. 8 with two birdies on the back nine for a three-day total of 208.

Salvador carded his best round of the tournament at two-under 70, which left him tied with Que at one-under 215.

“I hope I can sustain my performance,” said Lascuña, winner at Eagle Ridge and Southwoods early this year. “I can’t relax because there are some very good players in the field.”

Lascuña, who birdied Nos. 10 and 14 both inside five feet, said his chances of winning will depend on his play going out today.

“If they can’t cut my lead on the front nine, then I think my chances (of winning) will be good,” said the 41-year-old, who wound up 12th in the Asian Tour Order of Merit after a joint fifth-place finish with Que in the season-ending Iskandar Johor Open in Malaysia.

Que matched par on another windy day that saw Carl Santos-Ocampo gain ground with a 69 for 216.

Santos-Ocampo, winner of the Davao leg early this year, nailed six birdies, including four on the front nine, but dropped three shots on 13 and 14, which he double bogeyed after his approach shot rolled into the water.

But with the way Lascuña has been playing of late, Santos-Ocampo said their prospects of catching up look grim. “He’s been very solid all year,” Santos Ocampo said of Lascuña.

James Ryan Lam looked poised for a Top 5 finish after a 72 put him at 218, in the company of Zanie Boy Gialon who had a 74.

Defending champion Frankie Miñoza was 11 shots off the pace at 219 like Clyde Mondilla even after a 71 yesterday.

The tournament is organized by Pilipinas Golf Tour and backed by Empire Golf, Titleist, Footjoy, Callaway, TaylorMade, Mizuno, Srixon, Nike Golf, Custom Clubmakers and Sharp with Inquirer Golf, Balls, Studio 23, and Pinoygolfer.com as media partners.

The scores:

208—A. Lascuña (70-67-71); 215—E. Salvador (72-73-70), A. Que (70-73-72); 216—C. Santos-Ocampo (72-75-69); 218—J. Lam (71-75-72), Z. Gialon (74-70-74); 219—F. Miñoza (72-76-71), C. Mondilla (75-72-72); 221—R. Sinfuego (78-72-71), M. Fernando (73-73-75); 223—M. Tabuena (76-76-76), J. Rates (74-77-72); 225—D. Delos Santos (75-74-75), B. Magada (77-77-71), G. Rosales (77-74-74), A. Villacencio (73-78-74), C. Hong (71-79-75), O. Sumcad (71-77-77); 226—D. Becierra (74-76-76); 227—P. Minoza (78-77-72), R. Pagunsan (74-75-78)