Khon Kaen, Thailand, February 15 - Antonio Lascuna of the Philippines set himself up for back-to-back wins on the ASEAN PGA Tour on Friday when he took a three-stroke halfway lead following a second successive 66 at the Singha Esan Open.
Lascuna ended a long wait for his first Tour win with victory at the 2012/13 season-ending Sabah Masters last month and has continued his rich vein of form at the testing Singha Park Golf Club.
He leads countryman Mars Pucay, the joint overnight leader who added a 70 to his opening 65, and the Thai duo of Sattaya Supupramai and amateur Chirat Jirasuwan in with matching 66s.
Overnight co-leaders Clyde Mondilla and Carl Santos-Ocampo of the Philippines both shot 71 to lie four shots off the pace with Thailand’s Prayad Marksaeng, a six-time winner on the Asian Tour and Singha Esan Open champion in 2007 who carded a 70, countryman Thanyakon Khrongpha, 65, and American Sam Cyr, 68.
"I am playing some of the best golf of my career at the moment," said the popular 42-year-old Lascuna, who had a string of top 10 finishes - including two runner up placings - before breaking through at the Sabah Masters with a playoff victory over fellow veteran Mardan Mamat of Singapore.
"Winning in Sabah gave me a great feeling as I had never won before on the ASEAN PGA Tour - always second place.
"I will try my best over the next two days to win another trophy."
Lascuna finished 12th on the Asian Tour moneylist last season and credits his good form over the past two years to a healthier lifestyle.
"I stopped drinking (alcohol) two years ago and my body is feeling better," he said. "Nowadays my focus is on practice, some gym work and running. It is working - I won three times on the domestic tour in the Philippines last year and topped the Order of Merit."
He played near flawless golf in the second round, hitting 16 greens in regulation, missing just one fairway and requiring only 25 putts en route to his 66.
The highlight of his round was an eagle two at the par-four second hole (his 11th) where he holed a wedge from 85 yards.
"It span back into the hole - that was great," said Lascuna, who also carded five birdies and one bogey for a total of 12-under 132. "Everything is going right with my game."
Countryman Pucay rued some poor approach play as he mixed five birdies with three bogeys.
"I missed five greens which put my putting under pressure - that was the difference from the first day," he said. "But I am still in striking distance with two rounds to play."
Chirat, a 21-year-old university student, shot seven birdies in 15 holes before blighting his card with a bogey.
"That's one of my best rounds in a professional tournament," he said of his 66. "My putting was very good which pleased me.
"I had a plan not to hit the ball past the flag and it worked."
Indonesia's number one player Rory Hie made a much needed comeback writing a 68 on his card for a two day total of 143. Six birdies and 2 bogeys was enough for him to continue play during the weekend.
Meanwhile Asian Tour number one Thaworn Wiratchant of Thailand, who won the title in 2010, ballooned to a six-over 78 after his opening 71 and missed the cut which came at even par.
Former Thai tennis star Paradorn Srichaphan, looking to forge a new career in golf, finished on 18-over 162 after his second successive 81.
Leading scores after the second round of the Singha Esan Open on Friday (Thai unless stated):
132 - Antonio Lascuna (PHI) 66-66
135 - Chirat Jirasuwan (amateur) 69-66, Mars Pucay (PHI) 65-70, Sattaya Supupramai 69-66
136 - Carl Santos-Ocampo (PHI) 65-71, Clyde Mondilla (PHI) 65-71, Thanyakon Khrongpha 71-65, Sam Cyr (US) 68-68. Prayad Marksaeng 66-70
137 - Sutijet Kooratanapisan 67-70, Atthaphon Sriboonkaew 70-67, Kittiroj Chantharothai 65-72
Selected
143 - Choo Tze Huang (SIN) 72-71, Rory Hie (INA) 75-68
149 - Thaworn Wiratchant 71-78
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