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Melaka, Malaysia, 10 June: Filipino Antonio Lascuna powered into a two-stroke lead at the halfway mark of the US$50,000 Heritage Melaka Classic on the Mercedes-Benz Tour.
 
The in-form Lascuna fired a six-under-par 66 at the sun-kissed Tiara Melaka Golf & Country Club to lead from Singapore’s Lam Chih Bing.
 
“Everything fell in place today, the driving, the putting and the mental game. Though the pin positions were difficult, my putting, which was good yesterday and today helped a lot,” said the Manila-based professional, who leads with a two-day total of 10-under-par 134.  
 
Lascuna, whose last win was the 2007 Selangor Masters, sank nine birdies against three bogeys.  The 38-year-old, ranked ninth on the Mercedes-Benz Tour, is looking to improve his standing with a win at the end of the week. His best finish on the Tour was runner-up at the Singha Pattaya Open in April.  
 
Hot on his heels is Lam who carded a 67 – helped by starting off on a good note with an eagle on the par five second. He had five birdies and two bogeys.
 
“I had a good solid drive and another good shot on the second and then chipped in from 15 metres for the eagle,” said Lam (below picture), who won the Mercedes-Benz Masters Indonesia last year.
 
“I am hitting the ball pretty good these days, my putting is decent and I have absolutely no complaints. I hope to hit another low round tomorrow.”
 
Thailand’s Pongthep Jaewchamnanchao posted a 71 and is in third place three behind Lascuna.
 
First day leader Sattaya Supupramai from Thailand, who carded a record opening 63, couldn’t get his ball placement right and fired a  75.
 
He is in joint fourth position with his much-fancied countryman Thaworn Wiratchant who posted a 69.
 
“It was a killer day out there today but I am okay with my score,” said Sattaya, who could only manage two birdies against five bogeys today.
 
The cut was made at four-over-par 148.
 
Leading second round scores (par 72):
 
134 Antonio Lascuna (PHI) 68-66
136 Lam Chih Bing (SIN) 69-67
137 Pongthep Jaewchamnanchao (THA) 66-71
138 Sattaya Supuramai (THA) 63-75, Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 69-69,
139 Airil Rizman (MAS) 68 –71,
140 Ferdie Aunzo (PHI) 69-71, Sivachandran (MAS) 71-69, Mardan Mamat (SIN) 71-69, Kavipong Meanpetch THA) 71-69
141 M Sasidaran (MAS) 69-72, S Murthy (MAS) 68-73, Passamet Pogamnerd (THA) 72-69, Panuwat Muenlek (THA) 74-67, Ben Leong (MAS) 72-69
 
Selected:
 
145 Quincy Quek (SIN) 67-78
 

Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz Tour. For more information, visit mercedes-benztour.com

From Golf Digest Singapore June 09 issue