ICTSI-Northwoods Lascuna pulls away; Juvic out
SAN RAFAEL, BULACAN—Antonio Lascuña zeroed in on his first ICTSI Tour title after firing a three-under-par 69 yesterday to grab a three-stroke lead over Marvin Dumandan heading into the final round of the circuit’s Royal Northwoods leg here.
Lascuña picked up two shots in his last four holes and posted a 134 aggregate while Dumandan, who teed off tied for the lead with the Davaoeño, struggled to shoot a level 72 for 137. The road to victory seems to be clear for Lascuña after one of the chief threats at the start of the day, Juvic Pagunsan, who was just two strokes off the lead, withdrew before the start of the round because of an allergy. Pagunsan, the runaway Order of Merit leader, informed Pilipinas Golf Tour chief Colo Ventosa of his decision. An Asian Tour regular whose best finish in the circuit was a playoff loss to Benjie Magada at Orchard three months ago, Lascuña gunned down seven birdies but had a double bogey 6 on No. 4 after driving out of bounds. “I could have pulled away if not for that double bogey,” rued Lascuña, who had two other bogeys, in Filipino. Dumandan struggled on the greens, taking six more putts this time and fell to solo second, a stroke ahead of Salvador. The reigning Philippine Open champion Salvador crept into contention by returning a second straight 69 highlighted by a 32 coming home for 138. After gunning down nine birdies in his opening 65, Lascuña now has a total of 16 for the tournament, downplaying how comfortable he is playing the rolling layout. Rey Pagunsan, who lost by one to Ferdie Aunzo here last year, cracked par for the second straight day, his 70 putting him in a tie with obscure Richard Abaring, who also had a 70, for 139 tallies.
Lascuña picked up two shots in his last four holes and posted a 134 aggregate while Dumandan, who teed off tied for the lead with the Davaoeño, struggled to shoot a level 72 for 137. The road to victory seems to be clear for Lascuña after one of the chief threats at the start of the day, Juvic Pagunsan, who was just two strokes off the lead, withdrew before the start of the round because of an allergy. Pagunsan, the runaway Order of Merit leader, informed Pilipinas Golf Tour chief Colo Ventosa of his decision. An Asian Tour regular whose best finish in the circuit was a playoff loss to Benjie Magada at Orchard three months ago, Lascuña gunned down seven birdies but had a double bogey 6 on No. 4 after driving out of bounds. “I could have pulled away if not for that double bogey,” rued Lascuña, who had two other bogeys, in Filipino. Dumandan struggled on the greens, taking six more putts this time and fell to solo second, a stroke ahead of Salvador. The reigning Philippine Open champion Salvador crept into contention by returning a second straight 69 highlighted by a 32 coming home for 138. After gunning down nine birdies in his opening 65, Lascuña now has a total of 16 for the tournament, downplaying how comfortable he is playing the rolling layout. Rey Pagunsan, who lost by one to Ferdie Aunzo here last year, cracked par for the second straight day, his 70 putting him in a tie with obscure Richard Abaring, who also had a 70, for 139 tallies.
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