Batangas, Philippines; June 9: Veteran Antonio Lascuna fired a six-under-par 66 to take the clubhouse lead on the second day of the rain interrupted ICTSI Mt. Malarayat Championship.
The perennial runner-up on the ASEAN PGA Tour moved to eight under for the tournament to lead by three strokes from compatriot Juvic Pagunsan.
Pagunsan shot a 71 at Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club in the second event of the season on the ASEAN PGA Tour.
Heavy rain on the opening day meant all of the 90 players had to finish their first round today, which also led to only 23 players being able to complete round two.
Pagunsan and his 16-year-old compatriot Miguel Tabuena carded 68s for the first round lead before Lascuna took charge with a majestic round made up of seven birdies and one bogey.
“I made a lot of putts and played some great irons shots,” said Lascuna.
The 40 year old is looking for first win on the ASEAN PGA Tour after a wealth of runner up finishes.
Pagunsan is no stranger to victory on the circuit having claimed last year’s ASEAN PGA Tour Order of Merit title during a year which saw him win the Mercedes-Benz Masters Thailand.
He said: “In the morning I played great but it was hard going in the wet conditions. The course is playing long but as the greens are soft it means you can attack the pins. I just didn’t strike it so well in the second round.”
He recorded a bogey free first round but notched up four birdies and three bogeys when he returned to the course.
The Filipino star comes into this week in fine form having won the ICTSI Eastridge Classic by one shot from compatriot Marvin Dumandan last Friday on the Philippine Golf Tour.
Tabuena was still on the course with three to play and lay at four under for the tournament.
Safely in the clubhouse on four under are Thailand’s Thanyakon Khrongpha and Panuwat Muenlek, and Filipinos Jerson Balasabas and Jhonnel Ababa.
Ababa came in with a 67, Balasabas and Thanyakon fired a 70 while Panuwat carded 71.
Completed second round scores (Filipino unless stated)
136 – Antonio Lascuna 70-66
139 – Juvic Pagunsan 68-71
140 – Panuwat Muenlek (THA) 69-71, Thanyakon Khrongpha (THA) 70-70, Jerson Balasabas 70-70, Jhonnel Ababa 73-67
