ICTSI Splendido Taal golf tilt: Lascuña leads with solid 67

LAUREL, Batangas – Tony Lascuña emerged on top in the third round of the ICTSI Splendido Taal Championship, overcoming an hour-long weather delay and the formidable challenges of the course and elements here Thursday.

Displaying his experience and composure, Lascuña finished with a bogey-free 67, which included birdies on Nos. 13 and 15, netting him a two-stroke lead over LJ Go with a 204 total.

Pushed back by the suspended second round on Wednesday, the third round faced another hour delay due to heavy rains and a lightning threat. However, when play resumed late in the afternoon, it was the resilient Lascuña who thrived, outperforming opponents half his age.

“Playing against young rivals, I just enjoyed the game,” said Lascuña in Pilipino, downplaying his impressive round under such trying conditions, including challenging winds. “The weather really hurts my back when it gets wet, but I'm still happy with how I played.”

Holding a two-stroke advantage with a 12-under aggregate, the four-time Philippine Golf Tour Order of Merit winner remained cautious about his chances for another victory but emphasized the importance of staying focused amid the expected charge from younger competitors.

“I don’t mind the scores or who is chasing me. At my age, it's just fairways and greens, and if given the chance to make a birdie, I hope I can capitalize on it,” added Lascuña.

Close on his heels is Go, who initially took control with a flawless frontside 33 and solidified his lead with back-to-back birdies from No. 10 before the weather interruption.

Unfortunately, Go's long game faltered after resumption, resulting in bogeys on Nos. 14 and 15. He, however, managed to save a 68, trailing Lascuña by two strokes at 206.

“After the break, I think I didn’t warm up enough and hit way right into the trees on No. 14. I punched out and made a bogey,” rued Go, also mentioning errors on bad drives and recovery difficulties.

Nevertheless, he managed a lucky birdie from long range on No. 16 and plans an aggressive approach in his bid to become the first two-leg winner this season following a runaway triumph at Palos Verdes.

PGT Q-School topnotcher Aidric Chan also made a strong bid for