Kuala Lumpur: Antonio Lascuna of the Philippines was over the moon after earning a precious place at the ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf at the Royal Melbourne Golf Club, Australia next month.
The 42-year-old Filipino squeezed into the elite 60-man field after countryman Juvic Pagunsan declined his chance to compete in the US$8 million tournament from November 21 to 24, 2013, which will feature an individual and team competition.
Lascuna will join 12 other Asian stars in the World Cup of Golf, including Angelo Que in representing the Philippines.
“I was very happy when I learnt that I managed to secure a place in the ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf,” said Lascuna.
“It’s a very prestigious tournament and to be able to represent your country in an international event like this is simply fantastic. I have not played much in Australia and as far as I can remember, the last time I was there was in the 2002 Johnnie Walker Classic where I caddied for Felix Casas!
“And now I’m going back to Australia as a player competing in the World Cup. It’s simply unbelievable. I’ve played in the World Cup previously (in 2007) with Gerald Rosales but I’m looking forward to a great partnership with Angelo,” added Lascuna.
Lascuna enjoyed his career best season on the Asian Tour last year by finishing 12th on the Order of Merit. He has posted four top-20s on the Asian Tour this season but Lascuna certainly benefited immensely from his runner-up finish at the ICSTI Mount Malayarat Classic on the Asian Development Tour (ADT) on home soil in August.
The high finish in the ADT, which is the Asian Tour’s secondary circuit, saw him earn him 3.6 Official World Golf Ranking points which ultimately helped Lascuna qualify for the ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf.
“I’m really thankful that I have got into the World Cup. I can’t wait to get to Royal Melbourne,” he said.
Que is looking forward to competing in the World Cup with Lascuna. “I have played with Antonio previously and I’m looking forward to it. I think our team will have a good chance of finishing in the top-three for the team competition if we play true to form. I’ve not played at Royal Melbourne before but I have heard a lot of good things about it and I’m really excited,” said Que.
Asia will be well represented at the ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf with a total of 13 Asians in the field including Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee and Kiradech Aphibarnrat, who are the past and current Asian Tour No. 1s, Korea’s K.J. Choi, who is an Asian Tour honorary member and eight-time winner on the PGA Tour, countryman Bae Sang-moon, India’s Gaganjeet Bhullar and Anirban Lahiri, Liang Wen-chong and Wu Ashun of China, and Siddikur of Bangladesh.
The ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf, which will be played under a new format this year, will feature an individual competition offering prize money of US$7 million while nations with two qualified players will also be eligible for the team event offering US$1 million in prize money.
The tournament was founded by the International Golf Association in association with industrialist John Jay Hopkins for the purpose of promoting international goodwill through golf. It began in 1953 as the Canada Cup and was renamed World Cup in 1967.
The 2013 World Cup will be the 57th staging of this event, which has seen all of the greats of the game lift the prestigious trophy. The roll of honour from the World Cup reads like a who’s who of golf. Great names such as Snead, Hogan, Nicklaus, Palmer, Trevino, Faldo, Ballesteros, Langer, Woods, Els and Montgomerie have all been able to call themselves World Champions.
The ISPS HANDA World Cup of Golf will be promoted by IMG.
Tickets to witness the world class event are on sale now from www.ticketmaster.com.au.
