Dumandan, Lascuna share lead at Royal Northwoods

Marvin Dumandan put on a putting clinic that produced a seven-under-par 65 which was later matched by Antonio Lascuna at the start of the P1-million ICTSI Royal Northwoods Championship at the Royal Northwoods Golf and Country Club in San Rafael, Bulacan. Dumandan, a power-hitting pro from Davao, scorched the Sta. Lucia layout with eight birdies from within eight feet which gave him that 65 to tie the course record set by Rey Pagunsan in the final round in last year's inaugural staging of the event. The putting of the 39-year-old Lascuna, one of the Asian Tour veterans, also clicked at the back nine to close out with a five-under 31 coming home for that 65 as he launched his nth bid to win his maiden leg in the two-year-old ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour. "Putting has been a big problem for me in the last few months. But today, I read all the greens perfectly," said Dumandan, who used his putter only 27 times. Two strokes behind with a five-under 67 is Juvic Pagunsan, who is also chasing the P200,000 top prize. Benjie Magada, chasing a follow-up to his playoff victory over Lascuna at the Orchard, fired a four-under 68. Rey Pagunsan, bidding to complete what he had failed to achieve here last year, shot a 69 for joint fifth with current Philippine Open champion Elmer Salvador, unheralded Richard Abaring and amateur Richard Joson. Jay Bayron carded a two-under 70 to put himself in a tie for ninth with Forest Hills leg winner Mars Pucay, Christopher delos Santos, Anthony Fernando, Gene Bondoc and Edgar Ababa and amateur Dante Becierra. Seven others turned in one-under 71s, including rookie pros Antonio Asistio II and Rufino Bayron. The returning Gerald Rosales and Richard Sinfuego, matched par at the par-72 layout, which practically lay defenseless with the absence of the wind. Last year's winner, Ferdie Aunzo struggled with a 39 in the first nine to finish with a three-over 75, 10 strokes behind. – Adrian Flores/JVP, GMANews.TV