Juvic zeroes in on Merit crown

Juvic Pagunsan remains well ahead of the field in the Order of Merit race in the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour, nearing the P1 million mark in earnings heading into the last three legs of the circuit beginning next week at Royal Northwoods.

The smooth-swinging Pagunsan has raked in winnings of P917,332, largely from two victories at ICTSI-Riviera and ICTSI-Apo legs and a couple of runner-up finishes at ICTSI Mt. Malarayat and at the ICTSI-Aboitiz in Cebu last month.

He could've actually pulled away from the field had he not figured in a final round controversy at ICTSI-Del Monte where he, along with Elmer Salvador and Richard Sinfuego, were disqualified for a breach of golf rule.

But the 31-year-old Bacolod ace has recovered from that misfortune and went on to finish runner-up to Jay Bayron in Cebu which also marked Aboitiz Equity Ventures' first involvement in pro golf as chief sponsor.

Bayron, boosted by his P200,000 winnings in the last leg and a string of runner-up finishes in the early going of the circuit sponsored by International Container Terminals Services, Inc., moved to No. 2 in the OOM race, amassing P809,317 and hoping to catch up with Pagunsan with solid finishes at ICTSI-Royal Northwoods on Oct. 6-8, at ICTSI-Valley Golf on Nov. 10-12 and at the final leg at ICTSI-Canlubang on Dec. 8-10.

Artemio Murakami is in third with P730,310 followed by ICTSI-Forest Hills leg winner Mars Pucay (P650,07), defending OOM champion Salvador (P522,644), Tony Lascuna (P489,964), Ferdie Aunzo (P458,164), lucky ICTSI-Del Monte leg winner Cassius Casas (P418,769), Angelo Que (P404,571) and Benjie Magada (P346,850, winner at ICTSI-Orchard leg.

The rest, including No. 11 and ICTSI-Sherwood leg champion Marvin Dumandan (P331,973), would be too far to pose a threat to Pagunsan although they are all expected to go all out in the last three legs to improve on their respective standings and gain the much-needed momentum for next year's staging of the annual tournament organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Jaguar, Land Rover, Studio 23, Balls TV, Srixon/Cleveland Golf, Callaway Golf, Odyssey and Golf Punk and media partners Business Mirror, Inquirer Golf Monthly, A Round of Golf, Pinoygolfer.com and Omnisource. (pr)