Pagunsan wavers but clings to 1-shot lead

JAY BAYRON OF DAVAO CITY.

JUVIC PAGUNSAN OF BACOLOD CITY.

Juvic Pagunsan bucked a shaky windup at the front, settling for a two-under 70 that proved enough to put him on a familiar place halfway through the P1 million ICTSI Royal Northwoods Championship at the Royal Northwoods Golf and Country Club in San Rafael, Bulacan, Thursday.

Pagunsan, who shared the first day scoring honors with Jobim Carlos with 66s, shook off the top amateur’s challenge early on, firing a bogey-free 33 at the back and adding another birdie on No. 1. But he bogeyed two of the next three holes and scrambled for a couple of pars to save a 37 for that 70.
With an eight-under 136, however, Pagunsan moved into the threshold of victory although he will have to contend with the very player who beat him for the Order of Merit crown on the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour on his home course in Canlubang last year.
Dabawenyo Jay Bayron joined Pagunsan in the championship flight on Friday by firing a similar 70 in one of the late afternoon flights, staying within a stroke at seven-under 137 heading into the final round of the 54-hole tournament sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc. and organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
Bayron, winner of the inaugural Aboitiz Invitational in Cebu and the Cangolf leg last year, banged in four birdies against a bogey in a fiery backside stint that shot him into contention for the top P200,000 purse.
“I'm not satisfied with my putting but my approach shots clicked," said Bayron, who missed the cut in the One-Asia tournament in Indonesia last week.

Anthony Fernando, the former national champion still in search of a breakthough win in the pro ranks, blew the chance to join flightmate Pagunsan at the helm as he double-bogeyed the par-4 No. 8. He wound up with a 70 for a 138 and will play with Pagunsan for the third straight day.
Brand new pro Carl Santos-Ocampo rallied with a sizzling 32 at the front, marred by a final hole bogey, as the Fil-Am bet shot the day’s best of 67 to force a tie at 139, just three strokes off Pagunsan.
Also pooling a five-under card is Kevin Tayao, who carded a 71, and Cassius Casas, who also had a 70, while Artemio Murakami, the reigning Philippine Open champion, also put himself into contention with a 140 after a 71.
"I believe that if can stay positive and keep playing the way I played today, I have a chance of winning my first title in my first tournament as a pro," said the 23-year-old Santos-Ocampo, a Finance major at University of Notre Dame in the US and product of the ICTSI program headed by Bong Lopez.
Carlos never recovered from back-to-back bogey start, fumbling with three more bogeys against two birdies for a 75 and a 141 in a tie with Elmer Saban, who had 70, former national amateur champion Mhark Fernando, who hobbled with a 74, and Elmer Salvador, who stumbled with a 73.
“It was a terrible round," said the 18-year-old Carlos. "Although I'm already far behind, I'll try to come out with a good final round score and maybe catch up with them."
Gerald Rosales and Gene Bondoc stood at 142 after a 72 and a 70, respectively while Marvin Dumandan fumbled with a 75, Tony Lascuna carded a 71 and Danny Zarate fired a 70 for 143s.
The top 40 players, excluding the amateurs, made the cut going into today's third and final round in this event backed MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Dynamic Sports, Omnisource International, Unilab, Mizuno, Titleist.PR