Pagunsans tied for Riviera lead
SILANG, Cavite – Juvic Pagunsan limped in severe conditions at the finish, falling to joint lead instead with uncle Rey, one ahead of two foreign aces in another topsy-turvy round halfway through the ICTSI Riviera Golf Challenge here yesterday.
The elder Pagunsan actually wavered first in one of the early flights, blowing a two-under card after eight holes with three bogeys for a 72 while Juvic also squandered an eaglespiked 33 start at the back with three bogeys in the last eight for a second straight 71 as they settled for identical 142s.
“It’s tough out there with the wind blowing from all directions,” said Juvic, who sparked hopes of a solid stint by the most fancied player in the fold with a spectacular eagle putt from eight feet on the par-5 10th off a solid second utility shot from 240 yards.
He birdied the 18th from 10 feet but blew everything with three bogeys at the front.
“We’re up against three factors here – the heat, the wind and the course,” said Asia’s former No. 1.
Dutch Guido Van der Valk closed out with a gutsy par-game at the front to likewise match par 71 at the wind-raked Langer layout and tied Lexus Keoninh of the US, who birdied the sixth for a 72, at 143 while Aussie Damien Jordan also stumbled at the finish but save a 70 for joint fifth with Peter Stojanovski of Macedonia, who turned in another 72, at 144.
With majority of the rest also floundering in hot, blustery conditions and unreceptive greens that saw defending champion and reigning Philippine Golf Tour Order of Merit champion Jobim Carlos and former OOM winner Clyde Mondilla miss the cut, at least seven others stood just a stroke or two behind.