Lascuña keeps ICTSI Forest Hills crown

ANTIPOLO – Tony Lascuña powered his way to another ICTSI Forest Hills Championship crown, beating Zanieboy Gialon for the second straight year on a closing 70 and a three-stroke victory at the Forest Hills Golf and Country Club here yesterday.

Not even a double-bogey on No. 12 could stymie Lascuña’s drive for another championship or fire up Gialon as the latter lost his putting touch after a scorching three-birdie binge from No. 10 that pulled him within three, settling for pars which the former matched all the way to the finish.

“I played according to plan – stay in control and stay focused throughout,” said Lascuña after making it two-in-row here with an 11-under 273 total worth P550,000.

Gialon carded a second straight 69 for a 276 and took the P370,000 runner-up prize.

The victory was not as emphatic as his 11-shot triumph over Gialon and Orlan Sumcad last year but it proved to be just as crushing as Lascuña was never seriously challenged after Jhonnel Ababa threatened to within two with a birdie on No. 2 and fell back just as quickly with a double-bogey on the next.

Miguel Tabuena, five behind at the start of the final round of the P3 million event, tried to give chase with a birdie on the seventh but like Ababa, the young top gun faded with a bogey on the 10th. He ended up with a 71 for third at 279 worth P215,000.

Gialon bounced back from a one-over frontside card with three straight birdies at the back but the recent Calatagan leg winner could only move no closer than three as he slowed down with missed putts and ended up runner-up for the second straight time.

In contrast, Lascuña ran off seven pars to launch his final round charge then closed out the front nine with back-to-back birdies and pulled away by six. He birdied No. 11 to hold off a charging Gialon and though he stumbled with a wet 6 on the par-4 No. 12, he found no need for a spectacular finish, his run of pars securing a follow-up to his Manila Masters victory at Eastridge last April for another championship to his vast trophy collection.