TARLAC – The $60,000 ICTSI Luisita Championship unwraps today with a promise of an early shootout among an elite international field headed by local aces Tony Lascuña and Miguel Tabuena and their foreign counterparts led by Steve Lewton of England and Micah Shin of the US at the Luisita Golf and Country Club here.
But it could also be an early test of survival as they slug it out under extreme summer heat although the absence of the wind could also lead to torrid scoring at one of the country’s challenging courses which hosted the Philippine Open in 2015.
Whatever, focus will be on Lascuña as he sets out for a title repeat, while Tabuena and Shin seek to relive their glory days at Luisita and Lewton shoots for another major local championship after nipping American Johannes Veerman in a playoff to nail the Philippine Open crown at The Country Club last March.
The rest of the starting 107-player field is also going all out for a strong start and the needed momentum in this kind of top-notch competition tipped to be tight and fierce from tee-off.
“This is going to be tough. The course remains as challenging as ever and the heat will surely be a factor especially in the final day,” said Lascuña, who ruled this event by six last year to snap his long spell at Luisita.
“I would like to win again here but I have to play solid and steady and I hope my putting will click. I’m focusing on Miguel since he’s in top shape,” added Lascuña.