Vintage Lascuña sets pace at Caliraya after a 64

Antonio Lascuña fifires eight birdies in bogeyless opening round. — CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Outgunned terribly being one of the oldest in the field, Antonio Lascuña on Tuesday fired a flawless eight-under-par 64 to seize a two-shot lead over two fellow tested warriors at the start of the P2.5 million ICTSI Caliraya Springs Championship in Cavinti, Laguna.

Still labeled a contender every tournament at 55, Lascuña signed for a couple of 32s in a hot performance as he chases down a first PGT championship since Splendido in 2024 and a follow up to the 54-hole Stronghold Senior Open triumph last year at Hallow Ridge.

“I suddenly feel young,” Lascuña said in Filipino after keeping Angelo Que and Clyde Mondilla—two of the longest hitters on Tour—in check with a two-shot lead. “I just hope my putting stays on point through the final round.”

Que bogeyed the 18th, while Mondilla dropped a shot on the 17th as the duo fired 66s with five others lurking another shot back.

The field had a heyday with the lift-clean-and-place rule as 35 players cracked and 11 more shooting level 72s, making the race for the 36-hole cut among the top 40 scores and ties as tight as it can be.

Horde of pursuers

Fidel Concepcion, who broke through at Apo Golf last year, Keanu Jahns, a three-time winner last year like Que, Rupert Zaragosa, Dino Villanueva and Jeff Lumbo are the ones who are three shots off the pace.

A six-man pack headed by Ivan Monsalve and Gabriel Manotoc fired 68s, with Aidric Chan and Sean Ramos bannering a seven-man group the shot 69s on a low-scoring day.

Que was also working on a flawless round when he dropped a shot on the 18th, which came after an eagle on No. 4 and five birdies. INQ