Magada outlasts Lascuna, Bayron in playoff to win Orchard golf crown

Dasmarinas, Cavite — Benjie Magada needed three extra holes to pull off an upset win over seasoned veteran Antonio Lascuna and upstart Jay Bayron in the P1-million ICTSI-Orchard Golf Championship at The Orchard Golf and Country Club. Magada and Lascuna each closed with a one-over-par 73 for a 210 total in regulation to setup the exciting playoff. Bayron joined the mix as he dished out a two-under-par 70 at the Gary Player course. An excellent second shot from 235 yards using a five wood carried the ball to inside 15 feet for an eagle try on the par-five No. 18. He calmly stroked the ball close enough for the winning birdie. Not to be outdone was Lascuna, who masterfully hit a good approach shot that setup his own birdie putt. The usually steady shotmaker from Davao misread the green which gave Magada his first win in the Philippine Golf Tour (PGT). Bayron earlier bombed out of the race right at the first extra hole where he didn’t make his birdie try also at the 18th. This was the second time that Magada and Lascuna battled in a playoff. Magada defeated Lascuna in the final of the Seremban Masters of the Malaysia Tour in 2008. "I’m very, very lucky to beat Tony (Lascuna). At my age (44 and five years older than his opponent), I am happy that I can still win," said the P200,000-richer Magada, who has had forgettable stints in the first six legs of the current circuit. Lascuna settled for the P120,000 runner-up prize. He was disappointed at himself for not maintaining decent games in the last two rounds. His final chance also blew on his face. "I got into trouble in that final trip to the 18th. It was a tough 16-footer that could have forced another playoff," said Lascuna. Bayron worked his way up with an eagle-aided 33 at the front but missed winning it outright with a bogey on No. 17. He took home P65,000. Mars Pucay also pressed his bid with a 34 after nine holes but he bogeyed two of the first five holes at the back and needed to hole out with a birdie to shoot a 70 for joint fourth place with Jun Bernis at 211. Cassius Casas, who sparked hopes of snapping a long title drought on the local front when he moved within one stroke of Lascuna and Magada after 36 holes, bogeyed three of his first 12 holes and finished without a birdie for a 75. He slipped to joint sixth with Rufino Bayron, Danny Zarate and amateur Jerson Balasabas at 213. Rufino Bayron, who once won a leg on the PGT circuit as an amateur, shot a 35 at the front but like majority of the contenders, wavered coming home with a 38 for a 73. Zarate, back on a winless spell after ending an 11-year title drought last year at Mt. Malarayat, closed out with a 69 for a 213 while Balasabas showed up the pros to turn in the lowest score at the back – a 31 – that gave the Cangolf bet the day's best round of 67 for a 213. Elmer Saban matched par 72 for a 214 and wound up 10th. – JVP, Adrian Flores, GMANews.TV