Lascuña completes Caliraya romp

Cavinti, Laguna, Philippines — Tony Lascuña defied Father Time, fashioning out a dominant wire-to-wire win in the ICTSI Caliraya Springs Championship at the Caliraya Springs Golf Club here yesterday.

He closed out with a 69 and beat Asian Tour campaigners Angelo Que and Lloyd Go by three with an 18-under 270 total that included rounds of 68, 66 and 67, keeping his overnight four-stroke lead as firm as he kept his form through sheer training and teaching through the years.

Not even a bogey on No. 15 could derail the 52-year-old shotmaker’s march to another championship after claiming the inaugural ICTSI Match Play crown at Villamor last year.

“I’m so thankful that I was able to win it. I kept an eye on Angel (Que) and Clyde (Mondilla) and just did what I did in the first three rounds – fairways and greens and make the most of my (putting) chances,” said Lascuña, who kept polishing his stroke on the practice green late Thursday when all the others had left for home.

His frontside 34 practically held off his rivals’ charge as he stayed four shots ahead heading to the last nine holes.

Though Que pulled within two in a flight ahead of the championship flight, the Davaoeño ace kept his nerves in check and hit clutch birdies on Nos. 12 and 14 to keep a three-four shot cushion on his way to victory worth P450,000.