By Jerome Lagunzad
Feeling he’s in a better shape this time, veteran Antonio Lascuña is confident that he can finally claim what seems to be an elusive crown in next month’s 2017 Solaire Philippine Open at The Country Club in Canlubang, Laguna.
Lascuña, 47, admitted that he has maintained a strict diet during the holidays and even intensified his practice sessions to make sure he’ll be at his peak in time for the “Centennial Edition” of the country’s longest running golfing tournament that offers a total prize pot of $600,000, with at least 130 crack golfers, led by defending champion Steve Lewton, in the hunt.
“Binantayan ko ng mabuti ‘yung mga kinakain ko nung pasko kaya feeling ko nakuha ko na ulit ‘yung kundisyon na gusto ko. Nakakagalaw na talaga ako ng mas maayos ngayon,” he told Tempo-Bulletin after the event’s press launch yesterday at the Waterside Restobar inside Solaire Resort and Casino in Parañaque City.
Last year, Lascuña made a good account of himself in the first three rounds, submitting identical par 72s, but bombed out of the final round with 79 as he struggled to deal with the nagging effects of gout.
“Contender ako last time at sa last nine holes lang ako naiwanan. Before ‘yung (PH) Open last year, may gout na ako kaya for two months hindi ako naka-practice. Hirap rin talaga ako makipagsabayan kasi masakit ‘yung tuhod ko, tapos ‘yung paa rin,” he said.
After being under the weather last week, Lascuña added that he’s all set to buckle down to work anew as he flies to Selangor, Malaysia to compete for the Maybank Championship slated from Feb. 1 to 4 at the Saujana Golf and Country Club.
“After ng tournament na ‘yun, tuluy-tuloy na ulit ang ensayo ko para makuha ko na itong korona sa Philippine Open.
Kumbaga ‘yan na lang ‘yung kulang sa collection ko,” said the four-time Order of Merit winner since 2012.
Evergreen Robert Pactolerin, the 1990 edition champion, and Jay Bayron had also expressed high hopes that a homegrown golfer will reclaim the throne since fast-rising Miguel Tabuena achieved the feat in 2015.
“Malaki ‘yung chance natin ngayon kasi ‘yung mga local golfers natin, nakakapag-training ng maayos at nagkakaroon ng mas maraming exposure sa iba’t ibang tours sa Asia,” said Bayron, 38, who last topped a local tourney in 2016 through the Aboitiz Invitational.
Aside from the Englishman Lewton and Tabuena, a pair of former champions, 2014 titleholder Marcus Both of Australia and 2012 winner Mardan Mamat of Singapore, have also made themselves available, assuring another tight and exciting battle.
That should only serve as another motivation, more than an added pressure, for local golfers to perform well, said Lascuña.