Golf: Gialon nips Lascuna in playoff, wins ICTSI Negros Classic

Zanie Boy Gialon’s foray into the pro ranks may have come a little early, but it yielded a good result as he posted his maiden win over veteran Antonio Lascuna in the rain-shortened P1-million ICTSI-Negros Occidental Classic in Bacolod City.                  Gialon and Lascuna were tied on 134 at the end of the second round.  And with the heavy downpour drenching the par-70 layout, the organizer, Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, decided to hold a playoff instead and determine the champion.                  And Gialon, 22, showed he could compete at a notch higher when needed, stroking his 6-iron to inside 20 feet on a par-3 where the playoff was held.  He almost made his birdie, then watched Lascuna clank on his par-saving putt from 8 feet.                  “I did not expect to win but I hit a good shot and coach [Tony] misfired,” said Gialon, who had Lascuna as one of his coaches during his amateur days.                  His victory netted him P200,000—his biggest paycheck—and hopes to continue his winning ways in next week’s ICTSI Iloilo Challenge at the Sta. Barbara Golf Club.                  “I was prepared to go for 18 holes but the course was unplayable. But I’ll take this win, this will surely boost my confidence,” said the former mainstay of the ICTSI amateur squad of coach Bong Lopez.                  Lascuna settled for P120,000, raising his front-running earnings to P1,223,750 in the Order of Merit but absorbing his second straight playoff setback here after losing to Robert Pactolerin in a four-hole playoff last year.                  Elmer Saban and rookie Clyde Mondilla shared third place at 137 and halved the combined prized of P115,000 while Elmer Salvador, Mhark Fernando and Paulo San Gabriel finished tied for fifth at 138 and took P35,000 each.                  Richard Sinfuego, Marvin Dumandan, Dante Becierra, Nilo Salahog and first round leader James Ryan Lam tied for eighth at 139 and received P23,000 each.  - AMD, GMA News