Lascuña aims to wield old magic at Forest Hills

Springs Championship last April.

“It’s been a long time (since we last played Forest Hills) but I always make it a point to be ready in every tournament, on every course. I practice and train a lot, so my confidence is always high,” added the holder of a record four PGT Order of Merit titles.

Though he never really seriously challenged for another crown after beating Lloyd Go and Angelo Que by three at Caliraya, the durable Lascuña, who finished tied for seventh at Luisita last month and joint sixth at Valley two weeks ago, has kept a winning mindset tournament-in, tournament-out.

“I know that I always have a chance (to win),” he said.

So does Reymon Jaraula, who romped away with a surprise five-shot win at Valley, along with Go and Que, Villamor Philippine Masters titlist Jhonnel Ababa,

Bacolod leg winner Ira Alido, Iloilo stop champion Rupert Zaragosa and a slew of others seeking to shine and earn a stab at glory in the P2 million championship sponsored by ICTSI.

Former Philippine Open champion Clyde Mondilla, who tied for second with Go at Valley, is likewise due for a top podium finish, together with Guido van der Valk, the reigning back-to-back The Country Club Invitational winner who hopes to put it all together this week after missing a clear shot at the title at Villamor.

Put in seasoned campaigners Keanu Jahns, Ferdie Aunzo, Elmer Salvador, Mars Pucay, Jay Bayron and Gialon and young guns Gabriel Manotoc, Kristoffer Arevalo, Elee Bisera, Josh Jorge, Sean Ramos, Jonas Magcalayo, Ivan Monsalve and Korean Hyun Ho Rho, the chase for the top P360,000 purse could indeed head to the last shot or putt.

Malabuyo, a promising young gymnast, who transferred from Team USA, collected 13.166 to claim second spot behind gold medalist China’s Zhang Qingying.

Shin Sholyi of Korea was third (13.833), while Finnegan took fourth (12.966).

It was Malabuyo’s best showing after last seeing action in the 2021 U.S. Championships, where she finished fourth in the all-around.

Meanwhile, Aleah Finnegan snared her second bronze medal when she took third place in the beam exercises, behind China’s Zhang Qingying, who took her second gold with 14.22 points, and Zhang Zinyi (13.133), who claimed second position.

Finnegan’s qualification came at the expense of eight-time Olympian Oksana Chusovitina, who missed out on an all-around berth to World Championships.

Chusovitina, who had a big stumble in the vault, won’t be competing in four events at the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, set for September in Antwerp, Belgium.