Lascuna and Rosales for Philippines Fortis challenge

In-form Tony Lascuna is hoping a return to his favourite hunting ground will bolster the Philippines’ hopes in the Fortis International Challenge at Kota Permai Golf and Country Club next week.

Lascuna will partner Gerald Rosales and bid for one of five tickets at stake to the Omega Mission Hills World Cup in China in November against 19 other two-man nations from Asia, Europe and Africa.

A return to Malaysia will bring happy memories as Lascuna triumphed in a local event earlier this year and then finished runner-up in the the Asian Tour’s Iskandar Johor Open last month.

“I am really excited as this is only my second time at the qualifier. I believe in my partner Gerald as he has a very good game and I am confident we can go on to qualify for China,” said Lascuna, who was unsuccessful in his first qualifying campaign in 2000.

Lascuna, who mixes coaching the Philippine amateur team with his travels on the Asian Tour, has produced some sparkling golf in recent times where he was also tied third in the Brunei Open earlier this month.

Now that he has virtually sealed his top-60 place on the Asian Tour’s UBS Order of Merit which will give him full playing rights for the 2008 season, Lascuna is hoping to sweeten his season by qualifying for the World Cup.

“I’ve partnered Gerald during our amateur days and I think he is solid off the tee. His overall game is good but his strength to me is in his driving,” said Lascuna.

“I am pleased with how I have been playing on the Asian Tour and my form has picked up in the second half of the season. Hopefully it will be a notch better when I play in the Fortis International Challenge.”

As Lascuna will be playing at Kota Permai for the first time, he will rely on the advice from Rosales, who has played several times at the popular venue. “It will be my first time on the course but I believe we have a strong chance to make it through if both of us maintain our current form and support each other on the golf course,” he said.

Iceland, meanwhile, withdrew from the Fortis International Challenge which now means a total of 20 teams from Asia, Europe and Africa will chase for five tickets to the Omega Mission Hills World Cup.

Amongst the early favourites include Thailand, Chinese Taipei, Holland, Korea, New Zealand, Singapore and home team Malaysia, who will be represented by Airil Rizman and Iain Steel.

The Fortis International Challenge will use the fourball (better ball) format in the first and third rounds and foursomes (alternate shot) in the second and final rounds.

A total of 18 teams have qualified automatically for the Omega Mission Hills World Cup through the Official World Golf Rankings with the remaining 10 places being decided through qualifying in Asia and South America.

The teams who have entered the Fortis International Challenge are as follows:

Chinese Taipei (Lin Wen-tang, Lin Wen-hong)
Ghana (Emos Korblah, Victor Brave Mensah)
Holland (Robert Jan Derksen, Maarten Lafeber)
Hong Kong (James Stewart, Wong Woon Man)
Korea (Lee Sung, Lee Seung-ho)
Myanmar (Zaw Moe, Soe Kyaw Naing)
Malaysia (Iain Steel, Airil Rizman)
Mauritius (Billy Narraina, Vishnoo Seeneevassen)
New Zealand (Stephen Scahill, Richard Lee)
Nigeria (Odoh Andrew Oche, Umoh Michael Edet)
Nepal (Shiva Ram Shrestha, Sachin Bhattarai)
Pakistan (Muhammad Munir, Muhammad Shabbir)
Philippines (Tony Lascuna, Gerald Rosales)
Russia (Korchak Igor, Ostankov Victor)
Swaziland (Meshack Zwane, Moses Shongwe)
Singapore (Lam Chih Bing, Mardan Mamat)
Switzerland (Martin Rominger, Robert Wiederkehr)
Slovenia (Andrej Kraljic, Janez Grilc)
Thailand (Thongchai Jaidee, Prayad Marksaeng)
Uganda (Deo Akope, Godfrey Mande)

September 21, 2007

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