Lascuña keeps brilliance, pads lead to seven

DAVAO – A bit tired playing in his seventh straight tournament, Tony Lascuña still showed his big appetite for winning, closing out in blistering fashion to shoot a 68 and practically settle the issue just 36 holes into the ICTSI Apo Golf Invitational at the Apo Golf and Country Club here yesterday.

Flaunting his superb wedge shots and putting touch at the finish, Lascuña continued his relentless assault on a course he calls home, birdying four of the last six holes for a closing 32 as he pulled away by seven over fellow Davaoeño Ferdie Aunzo halfway through the $3 million event.

“Actually, I’m a bit tired. I need to rest and re-charge,” said the 48-yearold Lascuña, who opted to downplay his chances for another win in the circuit put up by ICTSI after snapping a two-year spell with a victory in Philippine Golf Tour Asia leg in Taiwan last week.

With an 11-under 133 aggregate, Lascuña posted one of the biggest leads after 36 holes in any PGT or PGT Asia and threatened to better Juvic Pagunsan’s eight-shot romp over him in the ICTSI Riviera Classic last August.

“I just played my usual game and didn’t mind if there’s somebody making a charge. But my putting has been clicking the past two weeks,” said Lascuña.

Aunzo birdied two of the last four for a 69 as he took the challenger’s role at 140 while Ira Alido rebounded from a wobbly 74 Wednesday with the day’s best five-under 67, spiked by an eagle on the par-5 18th and capped by three birdies in his closing frontside stint.

A consistent Top 5 finisher in the PGT and PGTA this year, Aunzo pooled a 141 for joint third at 141 with Ramil Bisera and Dutch Guido Van der Valk.