Juvic, Tabuena share lead with 68s

PAGUNSAN

BONDOC

BAYRON

Juvic Pagunsan lived up to the hype, firing a stirring bogey-free 68 in wet conditions to take control of the field in the rain-suspended first round of the $50,000 ICTSI-Mt. Malarayat Championship at the Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club in Lipa City, Batangas, Thursday.
Miguel Tabuena also charged home with a four-under card to tie the fancied Pagunsan at the helm, one stroke clear of Thai Panuwat Muenlek, in a solid start for the 16-year-old find seeking his first pro win on his rookie year.
Pagunsan holed out with a birdie on the par-5 ninth to slip past Thai
Panuwat Muenlek, who momentarily seized the solo lead with a three-under 69 until the two Filipino bets came through with their 68s to move on top.
Tabuena used a fiery frontside stint to put himself in early contention, birdying four of the last five holes for a 32. He slowed down a bit at the back, dropping a stroke on the par-5 14th but recovering the stroke with a birdie on No. 16.
Veteran campaigner Tony Lascuna birdied the par-5 17th to tie Jerson Balasabas, the former amateur hotshot, Mars Pucay, Gene Bondoc, the pro-am winner, and Thais Khrongpha Thanyakon, Prathummanee Atthaphon and Apichart Papitak and Dutch Guido Van Der Valk at two-under 70 in preferred lies rule while unfancied Erwin Arcillas turned in his best start in years – a 71 that tied him with another Thai bet Chaisri Borworn.
Joe Rates, Arnold Villacencio and Elmer Saban matched par 72s for joint sixth with Supravee Phatam and Ekkalak Waisayangkul of Thailand in the event sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.
Inclement weather forced the suspension of the first round of the second leg of the ASEAN Golf Tour Wednesday with the starting 90-player field resuming play at 6:30 a.m. yesterday. The first half were to finish its second round late yesterday and the rest to resume early today before the third round action.
Marvin Dumandan closed out with back-to-back birdies at the front to salvage a one-over 73 in a tie with Robert Pactolerin, Jhonnel Ababa, Anthony Fernando and Thai Pornpong Phatlum while another shot farther back at 73 were Randy Garalde, Ernie Rellon, Mhark Fernando, Ferdie Aunzo, Antolin Fernand and Michael Bibat.
Elmer Salvador, winner of the Philippine Open here in 2009, sputtered with a 75 despite a closing eagle on No. 9 while Jay Bayron, who had three runner-up finishes in last year’s ASEAN circuit, wavered in his homeward trip at the front and wound up with a 39 for a 76.
Pagunsan, however, made sure things wound turn out right for the streaking Filipino shotmaker, who swept the last two legs of the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour.
He birdied Nos. 16 and 18 at resumption of play then made a couple of par-saving putts at the front before hitting another pair of birdies on Nos. 7 and 9 to preserve the lone bogey-free round in the tournament backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Unilab, Titleist, Sharp, Custom Clubmakers, Mizuno, PinoyGolfer.com, Inquirer Golf, A Round of Golf, Studio 23, Balls, and Dynamic Sports.PR