Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia, January 12 - Filipino Antonio Lascuna ended a long frustrating wait for his first win on the ASEAN PGA Tour today by triumphing in the US$75,000 Sabah Masters.
The popular 42-year-old beat pre-tournament favourite Mardan Mamat from Singapore on the third hole of a sudden-death play-off at Sutera Harbour Golf & Country Club.
Lascuna started the day five shots adrift of Mamat, who led after each of the first three rounds, but stormed through with a five-under-par 66.
Mamat closed with a 71, in the final event of the 2012-2013 season on the ASEAN PGA Tour.
The two players finished the tournament tied on 11-under-par 273.
Lascuna’s magical short game carried him to victory on the par-four 18th. He made a brilliant sand save on his 72nd hole and when they returned to the 18th for the play-off he made superb up and downs for par on the first two extra holes.
Mamat found water with his second shot on the third extra hole to hand victory to his Filipino opponent.
“I am really excited. It is a relief to finally win. It was a great battle with Mardan who kept giving me chances,” said Lascuna, who has won 18 times on the Philippine domestic circuit.
The Filipino first started playing on the ASEAN PGA Tour in 2008 and accumulated two second place finishes, a couple of third placings and a total of nine top fives.
“I always told myself to be patient and not force things. I felt a win would come eventually,” added Lascuna, who earned a cheque for US$12,918.
He carded a bogey-free round with four birdies on the front and one on the homeward stretch.
Mamat, chasing his third ASEAN PGA title, surprisingly stumbled on the back with bogeys on 14 and 18.
“I ran out of steam a bit but it has been a great week and a good start to the year. We are all happy Antonio finally got the monkey off his back,” said 45-year-old Mamat.
Filipino Anthony Fernando, joint second here in 2011, shot a 65 to claim solo possession of third place.
A stellar last round performance by Indonesia's number 1 golfer Rory Hie saw him climb to fourth place. With 7 birdies and a single bogey on the 16th hole he also recorded a 65, the lowest round score at the tournament.
Meanwhile George Gandranata maintained his 15th place with a mixed round of birdies and bogeys. His final tally of 286 saw him finish at 2 over for the tournament.
Malaysian Nicholas Fung ended in eighth position after carding a 74. The young man from Kota Kinabalu finished the season as the Order of Merit champion with winnings of US$31,884. He won the Palembang Musi Championship in Indonesia and lost in a play-off at the Singha Esan Open in Thailand.
Thailand’s Gunn Charoenkul, who beat Fung in Esan, took second place with earnings of US$28,742.
The next event on the ASEAN PGA Tour is the season-opening Singha Esan Open from February 14 to 17. The US$65,000 tournament will be played at Singha Park Golf Club in Khon Kaen.
Leading final round scores (Par 71):
273 - Antonio Lascuna (PHI) 67 69 71 66, Mardan Mamat (SIN) 67 66 69 71 (Lascuna won in play-off on third extra hole)
276 - Anthony Fernando (PHI) 72 70 69 65
277 - Rory Hie (INA) 71 73 68 65, R Nachimuthu (MAS) 72 71 66 68
279 - Pavit Tangkamolprasert (THA) 73 71 67 68, Somkiat Srisanga (THA) 69 68 69 73
280 - Nicholas Fung (MAS) 72 65 69 74
281 - S Siva Chandran (MAS) 71 68 71 71
282 - Wisut Artjanawat (THA) 73 69 70 70, Danny Chia (MAS) 69 73 68 72
284 - Annop Tangkamolprasert (THA) 70 72 71 71, Rufino Bayron (PHI) 70 70 72 72
285 - Mhark Fernando (PHI) 77 70 71 67
286 - George Gandranata (INA) 74 72 68 72
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