Lascuna ends up as top Pinoy bet in Iskandar Open

It was Antonio Lascuna and not Frankie Miñoza who emerged as the best Filipino golfer in the $1.25-million Iskandar Johor Open of the Asian Tour held in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. Lascuna pulled off a three-under-par 69 amidst strong winds at the Horizon Hills Golf and Country Club to join four others at 23rd place with a seven-under 281 total in the event won by Irishman and European Ryder Cup star Padraig Harrington. The dusky Lascuna excelled in the final nine holes, garnering three birdies to offset a couple of bogeys. He pocketed $12,750 or approximately P550,000. Countryman Miñoza, the most consistent in three days, slowed down with an even 72 to wound up with a six-under 282, for 28th worth $10,875 (P470,000). Artemio Murakami, the 2007 Iskandar Johor Open champion and Miñoza's understudy for many years, submitted a three-under 69 for a five-under 283. He received a check worth $9,375 (P405,000). Juvic Pagunsan had a good round of four-under 68 for 284 ($8,000) while Angelo Que limped with a one-over 73 for 285 ($6,500). Harrington, the three-time Major winner who held an overnight five-stroke lead, shot a winning score of 20-under 268 after a closing three-under 69 to claim the $198,125 champions purse. He was three ahead of Korean Noh Seung-yul, who stretched his lead on the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit, with his runner-up prize of US$135,625 after a superb 65. – Adrian Flores/JVP, GMANews.TV