Lascuña eyes Pinewoods breakthrough after injury break

A rested Tony Lascuña will try to secure his first victory of the season when he competes in the ICTSI Pinewoods Challenge, which tees off Tuesday, June 30, at Pinewoods Golf and Country Club in Baguio City.

The tournament is the third leg of this year’s Philippine Golf Tour calendar and carries a prize fund of PHP 2.5 million.

“I’m good now, ready for Pinewoods,” a confident Lascuña declared in Filipino.

The multi-titled veteran skipped last week’s Asian Development Tour event at Luisita to rest a nagging back injury.

The injury stemmed from a demanding battle at Caliraya Springs, where Lascuña finished one stroke behind Angelo Que in one of the most dramatic finishes in Philippine Golf Tour history.

The 55-year-old did not completely stop training during the break.

Lascuña held light sessions at Manila Southwoods, focusing mainly on precision range work to keep his rhythm and confidence intact.

The Pinewoods leg is expected to test both skill and endurance, with the mountain course in Baguio presenting a different challenge from longer layouts that favor power hitters.

The Philippine Golf Tour lists the ICTSI Pinewoods Challenge from June 30 to July 3, 2026, at Pinewoods Golf and Country Club.

Reports ahead of the event described Pinewoods as a 6,614-yard mountain course that will host a first-time Philippine Golf Tour and Ladies Philippine Golf Tour test in Baguio.

Lascuña believes the high-altitude course suits his game because Pinewoods rewards strategy, control and course management more than raw distance.

“Pinewoods suits me quite well, it doesn’t demand too much power, but strategy. Ball control and course management are absolute requirements,” said Lascuña, highlighting that tactical positioning will beat raw power next week.

The approach could give Lascuña an opening against younger rivals who may rely more heavily on the driver on a layout where misplaced shots can prove costly.

Still, Lascuña acknowledged that Pinewoods’ rolling terrain will test his stamina.

“The up-and-down terrain of the course is what I see as a bit of a problem. The younger players definitely have the advantage on that kind of layout,” admitted Lascuña, who stands as the winningest player in circuit history with over 50 career victories.

Despite the physical challenge, Lascuña draws confidence from his showing at Caliraya Springs, where he stayed in contention on a long course under oppressive summer heat.

The Pinewoods stop begins a demanding midyear stretch for the men’s tour.

After the Baguio event, players will head to Lubao, Pampanga, for the ICTSI Pradera Verde Championship at Pradera Verde Golf and Country Club from July 7 to 10.

The Ladies Philippine Golf Tour will run alongside the men’s tournament this week with a 54-hole event carrying PHP 1 million in prize money.

Harmie Constantino is expected to lead the women’s title chase as she seeks back-to-back victories after ending a long title drought with a dominant win at Caliraya Springs.

The Ladies Philippine Golf Tour lists its ICTSI Pinewoods Challenge from June 30 to July 2, 2026, also at Pinewoods Golf and Country Club.