Tony Lascuña vows to atone for a pair of poor performances that cost him a fourth Order of Merit title as he heads the field in the season-ending ICTSI Tournament Players’ Championship beginning tomorrow (Wednesday, Sept. 23) at Sherwood Hills Golf Club in Trece Martirez, Cavite.

While his ball-striking and iron game remain solid, Lascuña rues the loss of his putting touch that has anchored his domination of the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour the last three years but ruined his drive for a fourth straight plum in the money race.

“I just couldn’t seem to putt right in the last two tournaments, especially at Luisita where I finished outside of Top 10 in a long while,” said the ace Davaoñeo shotmaker, who ended up 12th in the inaugural Central Azucarera de Tarlac and yielded the OOM title to young gun Miguel Tabuena.

“But Miguel is playing exceptionally well. He’s good but I could’ve salvaged my season had my putting clicked last week,” said Lascuña, who nevertheless vowed to get back on track in the P3.5 million TPC marking the end of the local golfing season sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

Tabuena, who has secured the OOM title with back-to-back victories at ICTSI Open at Wack Wack and at Luisita, and Angelo Que won’t be around for the PGT final tournament but Lascuña still faces a slew of talented rivals, headed by Jay Bayron, Elmer Salvador, Orlan Sumcad, Clyde Mondilla, Cassius Casas, Zanieboy Gialon and Jhonnel Ababa.

Lascuña won five tournaments last year to extend his reign as OOM champion for the third year but went winless in the first half of this year’s circuit although he has posted a number of top five finishes to keep him among the OOM contenders.

He grabbed the lead with back-to-back victories at ICTSI Apo and ICTSI Classic at Mt. Malarayat and looked headed for another banner year when he led by four in the final round at ICTSI Open at Wack Wack.

But he floundered in the last 18 holes and turned in a career worst final round output of 79, yielding the title to Tabuena before turning in a below-par performance at Luisita.

Mars Pucay, who routed the field to snap a long title spell and win this event at Southlinks last year, is also in the fold, ready to defend the crown and give some push to an otherwise mediocre season.
Keen competition is seen in the four-day event, organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. with all players seeking to get a big slice in the money pie and improve on their respective OOM standing for outright berths in next year’s tour.

Also seeing action are Tonlits Asistio, Jun Bernis, Ferdie Aunzo, Jessie Balasabas, Rufino Bayron, Chris delos Santos, Marvin Dumandan, Charles Hong, Mhark Fernando, Anthony Fernando, Robert Pactolerin with a host of Korean, Japanese and Dutch challengers hope to spoil the locals’ bid in the event backed by Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Callaway, Srixon, Mizuno, TaylorMade, Nike Golf, Sharp, Custom Clubmakers, Titleist, Rudy Project, Pacsports, Omnisource, Cleveland Golf, KZG, FootJoy, Silicon, Empire and Great Depot.