Hot-putting Lascuña moves ahead with 66

TAGAYTAY, Philippines ­– Relegated to the background in the last four legs after a three-title sweep, Tony Lascuña had thought of re-claiming his lofty perch on the Philippine Golf Tour.

He moved 36 holes away from that after shooting a 66 and grabbing the lead halfway through the ICTSI Splendido Classic here yesterday.

The ace Davaoeño shotmaker rode on a hot putter and an explosive windup to storm past former national teammate Rey Pagunsan and seize a two-stroke lead in the P2 million event.

Recalling the form and putting touch that netted him three straight championships at Eagle Ridge, Forest Hills and Bacolod, Lascuña frolicked in the Splendido Taal Golf Club’s backside, gunning down seven birdies, including five straight from No. 10 as he moved from joint fourth to the top of the heap at nine-under 135.

“I always thought that putting is the key to winning so I practiced for one week at Southwoods during the break. Just putting – to polish and firm up my stroke. I’m glad it paid off,” said Lascuña, who ended up 11th in Negros, tied for fourth at Aboitiz Invitational, shared sixth place at Riviera and finished fourth in last week’s ICTSI Classic.

A pair of seven footers on Nos. 10 and 11 sparked his fiery backside finish and the ace Davaoeño shotmaker strung up three more inside eight feet to get past Pagunsan, who had earlier turned in a 70. Lascuña did fumble with a bogey on No. 15, missing a seven-footer, but birdied No. 16 for the second straight day and holed out with another eight-footer for that 30 and a 66.

Pagunsan birdied two of the last four holes at the front to save a 70 and looked headed to grabbing the lead at 137 until Lascuña came in with that six-under card that tied Korean Seok Jun Min’s opening round feat.

American Micah Shin put in a second straight 69 for a 138 and will join the many-time national team mainstays in the featured threesome in the pivotal third round of the event sponsored by ICTSI and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

Seok failed to sustain his brilliant 66 and cracked under pressure, hobbling with a 73 and slipping to joint fourth at 139 with Jay Bayron and Jhonnel Ababa, who stayed in contention after a 69 and 70, respectively.

Still, focus will be on the former buddies although Lascuña has piled up so many victories since they turned pro in 1997 and Pagunsan still in search for the big one.

“I can’t remember when I last contended in a tournament. Actually, I can’t believe seeing my name up there in the leaderboard,” said Pagunsan, who also credited his putting for his early surge in the event backed by Custom Clubmakers, adidas, KZG, Summit Mineral Water, Srixon, Pacsports, TaylorMade, Sharp and Champion.

He added that a slight shoulder injury also proved to be a blessing as he is not forced to unleash those power drives that have marked his game since he broke into the amateur scene in the early 90s.