Phl way behind in W Cup elims

MANILA, Philippines - Tony Lascuña and Mars Pucay struggled under the four-ball (better ball) format and settled for a one-under 70, seven shots behind Singapore at the start of the World Cup qualifier at the Seri Selangor Golf Club in Malaysia yesterday.

Lascuña, coming off a joint third place finish in the Selangor Masters at the par-71 SGC layout two weeks ago, and Pucay, who had previously played in the 2008 and 2009 World Cups with Angelo Que, had three birdies against two bogeys in the day for that 70 output.

Singapore’s Mardan Mamat and Lam Chih Bing, winners of the 2009 Asian Qualifying, frolicked with eight birdies, including four straight from No. 10, as they posted a one-stroke lead over the Malaysian pair of Iain Steel and new partner Shaaban Hussin.

New Zealand shot a 65 while Myanmar made a 66 followed by India (67) and Chinese-Taipei and Pakistan, which tied for sixth with 68s.

In joint eighth with the Philippines are Sri Lanka and Korea.