Golf: Lascuna leads ICTSI tilt as lightning suspends play in Laguna

A late run of birdies on a dusky Wednesday vaulted Antonio Lascuna to the top spot after the first round of the P2.5-million ICTSI MSW Championship at the Manila Southwoods Golf and Country Club’s Legends course was temporarily halted by threat of lightning.

The game was suspended at a little past 3 in the afternoon and resumed at almost5 pm due to the presence of lightning near the course. When the players came back, it was Lascuna who emerged on top, looking very determined to finish strong despite the impending darkness.

He was at 7-under in 14 holes, but a bogey on the 15th dropped him into a share of the lead with James Lam and Mhark Fernando, who carded similar 6-under-par 66s.

On the 16th and 17th, Lascuna nailed his sixth and seventh birdies to give him an 8-under-par 64, in his chase for the P450,000 champion’s prize in the 72-hole event by the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour.

“Lucky to finish with the lead,” Lascuna said.

Ferdie Aunzo, Cassius Casas, Rolando Marabe, Joey Huerva, Arnold Villacencio and Japanese Tomokazu Yoshinaga were tied for fourth with identical 5-under-par 67s.

Aunzo, who last won in the PGT was in 2009, made birdie six times from an average of eight-feet.

“It was a great feeling to shoot under. It has been a while,” Aunzo said.

Marabe, 37, from Bacolod, could have tied Lascuna if not for missed birdie chances on the second and 16th holes.

“My overall game was beautiful, especially around the greens,” said Marabe, who is still in search for his first win on the local tour. - RAF, GMA News