Pagunsan nips Carlos

BACOLOD — Dragged into a playoff by the young but talented Jobim Carlos, Juvic Pagunsan showed poise and class that have won him numerous titles and accolades here and abroad.

Outdriven by Carlos on the second extra hole on the par-4 No. 1, Pagunsan didn’t mind and struck a solid wedge shot from 60 yards to within five feet on the second extra hole and made the putt. He then watched Carlos muff his own birdie bid from nine feet to clinch the victory in the ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club course here yesterday.

“That was my plan and because I made a great approach from 60 yards, it put more pressure on Jobim,” said the multi-titled Pagunsan, who yielded some 10 yards to his 25-year-old rival off the mound.

“It was an inspiring win,” said Pagunsan, who was actually coming off an ACL injury that has hampered his campaign on the lucrative Japan PGA Tour, his base the last few years. He closed out with a 67 for a nine-under 271 total, which Carlos matched with a 68 on a birdie-par-birdie windup.

Pagunsan appeared headed to wrap it up in regulation after shaking off Korean Kim Joo Hyung early and then going 2-up over Carlos with a clutch birdie on No. 14 coupled with Carlos’ bogey on the next.

But the recent Apo leg winner refused to crack under tremendous pressure and came through with that fiery windup.

But after both parred the par-5 18th, Pagunsan used his experience and opted for a rather conservative play off the No. 1 tee, hacking out a superb approach shot then banging in the pressure-packed, title-clinching birdie putt.

Jhonnel Ababa needed to birdie the closing hole to join the playoff, but made bogey and settled for third at 273 after a 67. He pocketed

Halfway leader Zanieboy Gialon wound up with a 70 for fourth at 275 while Kim, 16, got some harsh lessons on handling final round pressure with Pagunsan, limping with a three-over 73 and dropping to fifth at 277.

Anthony Fernando rallied with a 67 to tie for sixth with American Pete Vilairatana and Elmer Salvador, who both carded 70s, and Elmer Salvador, who stumbled with a 71, at 278.

Nilo Salahog also bounced back with a 69 while Ramil Bisera matched par 70 as they pooled 280s and finished tied for 10th in the second of four tournaments making up the Visayan swing of the circuit backed by BDO, KZG, Custom Clubmakers, Meralco, Sharp, Champion, Summit Mineral Water and PLDT.