Stronghold Senior Open golf: Lascuña, Pactolerin overcome rain, mishaps to pull away

Stronghold Senior Open golf: LascuÃ±a, Pactolerin overcome rain, mishaps to pull away

Tony Lascuña (left) and Robert Pactolerin

Contributed photos

SAN PEDRO, Laguna – Tony Lascuña battled through a grueling, rain-lashed Tuesday at Hallow Ridge Filipinas Golf Club, grinding out a hard-earned 72—but still managing to pull six shots clear in the Stronghold Insurance Senior Open.

Despite a shaky start, the seasoned champion positioned himself firmly on the brink of another dominant victory, this time in senior play.

The 54-year-old veteran absorbed a double-bogey on the opening hole after his approach shot vanished into a drainage grate, forcing a frantic search that came up empty. The mishap threatened to derail his momentum early, but Lascuña refused to unravel.

Instead, he mounted a fiery comeback on the back nine, salvaging an even-par finish while showcasing the composure and resilience that have defined his distinguished career.

With three birdies over his last six holes, Lascuña completed a 36-hole total of 140, building on his brilliant opening-round 68. The strong finish gave him a commanding six-stroke bulge over Mars Pucay in the premier 50-59 age bracket of the 54-hole event backed by Stronghold Insurance.

Pucay, who recently won a seniors event in Canlubang, carded a steady 71 for a 146, edging ahead of Rico Depilo and Rey Pagunsan. Both Depilo (75) and Pagunsan (73) matched 147s as they head into the final 18 holes of this pioneering multi-round senior tournament conceptualized by Stronghold Insurance president Romulo delos Reyes Jr., whose vision provides the country’s senior pros with a rare and meaningful high-stakes stage.

“It’s all part of the game,” said Lascuña. “Good that the misfortune happened early—I had time to recover. But at a course this tough, with 18 holes still left, anything can happen.”

Robert Pactolerin, the 1990 Philippine Open champion, also thrived despite the punishing weather. He returned a gutsy 74 for a 149 total, widening his lead to seven in the 60-69 (Super Senior) division. Doming Umadhay remained in second after a 79 for 156, while Japan’s Tanaka Kosuke stayed within reach with a 78 for 159.

“We had a real tough day out there,” said Pactolerin, who mixed four bogeys with two birdies en route to twin 37s. The former hometown hero in Bacolod now finds himself on the threshold of another triumph—almost a decade after his last.

The day’s heavy downpour transformed Hallow Ridge into a far more punishing battlefield. Fairways played significantly longer as waterlogged turf limited roll, forcing players to hit longer irons into normally reachable greens. The swirling, unpredictable winds sweeping through the tree-lined former TAT Filipinas layout added a layer of complexity, demanding precision on nearly every shot. Even simple approaches became nerve-wracking as balls plugged into soft surfaces or skidded off slick greens.

Meanwhile, the 18-hole Legends Division, featuring players aged 70 and above, unfolds Wednesday. The field includes 86-year-old trailblazer Caloy Nival, who continues to inspire generations of Filipino golfers.