Flawless Thursday gives Lascuña two-shot lead at Splendido

Contributed

LAUREL, BATANGAS—Antonio Lascuña sustained his unrelenting assault on a first PGT (Philippine Golf Tour) leg victory this season, littering a bogey-free 24 holes on a rainy, chilly Thursday with six birdies, with a third round five-under-par 67 giving him a two-shot lead over LJ Go heading into the final 18 holes of the P2 million ICTSI Splendido Taal Championship here.

Lascuña played the last six holes of his second round at one-under for a 68, before conquering the back nine with a 32 for a 54-hole 2-4 aggregate and inch closer toward following up his upset The Country Club victory last February with a first win in the circuit.

“I guess everything just worked for me today,” the 54-year-old Lascuña, playing out of Manila Southwoods, told the Inquirer in Filipino. “It’s still anybody’s game. Considering the conditions we have had all week, no lead is safe here.”

Go, the Palos Verdes champion, had six third round bogeys but drop two shots in succession from the 14th for a 68 to be at 206, with rookie Aidric Chan returning a 69 to be another two strokes behind.

Keanu Jahns assembled a 70 to be five shots off the pace, with Russell Bautista shooting a 67 to match the day’s best and be at 211.

Former PH Open champion Clyde Mondilla, who opened with a 67 to share the lead, completed his second round at 72 and then fired an uncharacteristic 75 to now be 10 shots off and out of it.

Meanwhile, rookie Ji Won Lee, who won the Lakewood leg as an amateur last month, closed out with a level par 72 for 218 to win her first title as a pro by a shot over Mikha Fortuna in the ladies side of the event.

Fortuna was the only player to crack par in the final round, her 71 giving her four-shot cushion over Florence Bisera for second spot.