Lascuña leads stellar field as senior pros finally take center stage at Hallow Ridge

MANILA, Philippines — Tony Lascuña, the only player to clinch a record five Order of Merit titles on the regular Philippine pro circuit, aims to extend his growing legacy in the senior ranks as the Stronghold Insurance Senior Open fires off Monday, December 8, at the championship-ready Hallow Ridge Filipinas Golf Club.

Lascuña leads a stellar 33-man field in the showcase Senior division (ages 50–59), all vying for the top P150,000 purse in what is being hailed as the first multi-round major for senior pros–and the richest event for local golfing veterans in recent memory.

But beyond the prize money, the tournament signals something far more meaningful–the long-awaited moment when the country’s senior professionals finally take center stage.

“This feels like the birth of how senior pro events should be run from now on,” said Lascuña in Filipino after sharpening his short game at the Manila Southwoods Sunday. “A lot of us senior pros are very grateful. We’ve never had an event this big, this organized, and this professional.”

Now 54, Lascuña has shifted much of his competitive focus toward the senior scene, recently competing in Taiwan. But he faces stiff resistance this week from an impressive cast of rivals.

Out to spoil his bid are Mars Pucay, Elmer Salvador, Orlan Sumcad and Rico Depilo–all standouts on the ICTSI circuit. Adding further intrigue are five foreign challengers, led by Australians Matt Blundell and Karl Russell, and American Nik Banchoff, all eager to make an impact on Philippine soil.

The tournament’s depth extends beyond the main division. In the Super Senior class (ages 60-69), former Philippine Open champions Robert Pactolerin and Mario Manubay headline a seasoned lineup that includes Asian Senior Tour president Chuan Campbell and Japan’s Tanaka Kosuke. Their bracket awards P100,000 to the winner.

A third group–the Legends division (70 years and above)–will see action Wednesday, battling over 18 holes for a distinguished championship trophy and P50,000 in prizes.

For many of these elder statesmen of Philippine golf, it is a rare opportunity to compete for meaningful stakes in a professionally organized setting–something they’ve long hoped for.

The three-day tournament begins at 7:30 a.m. Monday with a two-man, 60-team pro-am, featuring clients and friends of Stronghold Insurance president Romulo delos Reyes Jr., whose firm has emerged as the biggest backer of senior professional golf in the country.

Their support has not only elevated the tournament’s purse but also affirmed a commitment to ensuring that Filipino senior pros–many of whom shaped the nation’s golf landscape–continue to have high-quality, career-extending events to look forward to.

Hallow Ridge has been meticulously prepared to championship standards, promising firm conditions and a fair but demanding layout for all divisions.

Scores from Monday’s pro-am will carry over to the tournament proper. After 36 holes, a cut will trim the field to the top 50 percent and ties, setting the stage for a pressure-packed final day.

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