Golf: Salvador settles for joint-44th at Queen's Cup end, Lascuna places 16th

Samui, Thailand - Elmer Salvador ended up way below if what he wanted but still feels satisfied with his overall performance in the just-concluded Queen's Cup tournament of the Asian Tour at the Santiburi Samui Country Club.
    
Salvador had a promising start in the first two rounds and was among the early contenders for the title at midway point of the $300,000 event.  He however fizzled out in the weekend rounds to finish at joint-44th place.
    
He closed out with a forgettable eight-over-par 79 for a five-over-par 289 total.  Thailand veteran star Prayad Marksaeng (67-270) nipped countryman Arnond Vongvanij (69-273) for the title and the almost $57,000 cash prize.
    
"To be able to make the cut safely and play 72 holes after almost 2 months of inactivity, I'm happy with this result," said Salvador in Filipino.  "I had my chances but I could not sustain it, especially in the final round."
    
Still, he is bringing home more than $1,600, enough to give him funds for his upcoming tournaments.  He is slated to participate in the Mindanao stop of the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour starting next week in Davao City.
    
"I'm actually looking forward to that.  I will be playing in my hometown so I'm excited," the 42-year-old star also said.
    
Antonio Lascuna was the best placed Filipino in the Queen's Cup.  After a 74 to open his bid, he flourished with a 69-70-69 showing in the last three rounds to be on a share of 16th spot.  He earned close to $4,700 for his feat.
    
"If not for my over-par score in the first day, I would have made a good run at the crown," said Lascuna, the top man on the domestic ICTSI pro tour.
    
Jay Bayron, the 2012 Asian Development Tour Order of Merit champion, also made a 69 for 286 and was awarded a check worth $2,669.
    
Pre-tournament favorite Angelo Que was the lone Philippine casualty as he did not make it through the halfway cut.
    
Backed by the passionate home crowd at the Santiburi Samui, Prayad was in second place before the third round, one shot behind Bangladesh’s Siddikur.
     
He opened with a bogey but birdied holes four and six to take over the lead.  He had a bogey on the 7th but a spectacular eagle-three on the eighth extended his lead to two.
    
When Arnond bogeyed the par-four No. 12, Prayad exuded confidence that he would finally lay claim to the Queen’s Cup’s trophy.
    
After making nine straights pars starting from the ninth hole, Prayad then savored a well-deserved victory with a closing eagle-three on the 18th.
    
“When Arnond bogeyed the 12th, I had a feeling that this would be my week. I’ve been struggling with injuries for so long and I finally got my game together this year,” said Prayad. - AMD, GMA News