Lascuña seizes two-shot lead

LUBAO, Pampanga, Philippines — Tony Lascuña continued to defy the odds, banking on his accuracy, ball control and putting to storm ahead by two on a solid 70 halfway through the ICTSI Pradera Verde Championship here yesterday.

He hit all fairways with his 250-yard norm for a two-stroke lead over Angelo Que, Art Arbole and Guido Van der Valk at five-under 139.

Lascuña, 51, gained another crack at a victory this late in his checkered career, leading a pack that includes a Dutch whose game resembles his.

“This course is really for the long hitters,” insisted Lascuña, a four-time Order of Merit winner on the Philippine Golf Tour heading to moving day of the P2 million event put up by ICTSI.

But no lead is safe with Que in the thick of things at 141 despite slowing down with a 72 after an opening 69; Van der Valk bouncing back from a wobbly frontside to save a 70; and unfancied Arbole leaning on what he termed as “lucky” streak to put himself in the conversation.

Meanwhile, Chanelle Avaricio barely survived the wind-blown round, carding a 74 that set the stage for a wild finish in the ladies side.

The three-leg winner still held the lead at 141 but her slide from her fiery opening 67 typified the daunting challenge for top honors in the 54-hole, P1.25 million event.

Harmie Constantino had a second straight 71 and a 142 while Florence Bisera gunned down four birdies against two bogeys to wrest solo third at 143 after 36 holes of play.