Pagunsan sets pace with flawless 66

BACOLOD – Juvic Pagunsan churned out an expected fine round of bogey free, four-under 66 under ideal condition at the Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club then watched Tony Lascuna and Rufino Bayron fumble at the finish to seize the solo lead at the start of the P1 million ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic here Wednesday.

Pagunsan birdied four of the first 12 holes in impressive style and rescued pars from the bunkers three times, including at the par-5 18^thfrom 10 feet that capped a 33-33 round fashioned out in the privacy of a windless early morning flight.

“It’s a good start although I’m still getting the feel of my new irons,” said Pagunsan, who brandished a new set of Ping irons he used only last week when he finished joint 11^th in the ASEAN PGA Tour leg in Malaysia.

He also bucked an eye allergy that kept him out of the pro-am tournament Tuesday although Pagunsan’s hold of the early lead was threatened by at least two rivals, including Bayron, who birdied the first four holes only to falter with two bogeys in the last three holes for a 68.

Lascuna took the challenger’s role with a 67, his bid for a share of the lead was ruined with a three-putt bogey mishap at the par-3 No. 8 on his way home.

“Nakakapanibago ang greens, medyo mabagal,” rued Lascuna, who upstaged Pagunsan in Malaysia by finishing eighth.

Anthony Fernando, who led his team to the pro-am win, caught up with Bayron in third at 68 on a four-birdie, two-bogey stint while local bet Robert Pactolerin flashed his familiarity with the tight layout to fire a 69 in a tie with Gene Bondoc and Mars Pucay.

Short by the pros’ standards, the par-70 layout still held its ground and yielded just seven under par rounds while six others matched par as the rest struggled on its slow surface all day.

Rodrigo Cuello, another local talent, led the 70 scorers who included rookie Carl Santos-Ocampo, Joel Opaco, James Ryan Lam, Cookie La’O and Mhark Fernando.

Jessie Balasabas rallied with a 32 at the front to salvage a 71 to join the big bunch that includes the other fancied players in the event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and sponsored by International Container Terminals Services, Inc.

Marvin Dumandan, winner of three legs last year, overcame a triple-bogey start as he drove out of bounds twice at the winding par-4 No. 1, a double bogey on No. 4 and two bogeys with six birdies, including three straight from No. 5.

Elmer Salvador is also in the mix with a 32-39 round along with Ferdie Aunzo, Richard Sinfuego and unfancied Rey Bolano, Ramonito Ortega, Rodulfo Aldimer, Godofredo Sinfuego and Ruben Sasutil.

The 54-hole event is backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Unilab, BDO, Titleist, Sharp, Custom Clubmakers, Mizuno, PinoyGolfer.com, Inquirer Golf, Omnisource International, A Round of Golf, Studio 23, Balls, and Dynamic Sports.(pr)

Agojo seizes 3-pt lead over Davao's Ikeda, Ababa

Jayvie Agojo, still in search of a first win on her comeback trail, fired 56 points under the Molave scoring system and wrested a three-point lead over reigning Philippine Ladies Amateur Open champion Chihiro Ikeda and Sarah Ababa at the start of the Southern Ladies golf tournament at the Binitin course of the Bacolod Golf and Country Club.

Agojo knocked down three birdies inside eight feet on Nos. 1, 2 and 18 to negate a three-putt bogey mishap on No. 3 as she showed up Ikeda and Ababa with a solid two-under par 68 in stroke play to pace the 54-hole tournament organized and conducted by the National Golf Association of the Phils.

“I'm happy to be in the lead. I haven't been winning lately so I hope to keep this up in the next two days,” said Agojo, who swept three major titles, including the Philippine Ladies Open, to highlight a banner year in 2005.

But the former Pepperdine University standout, trying to nail the big one coming off a long layoff due to motherhood, knows it will take a lot of hard work and solid shot-making in the next 36 holes to pocket her dream victory.

“I just have to maintain a one- or two-under card to win here. But it will be tough, it was kind of easy today because the wind hardly blew,” said Agojo, who also won this event and the DHL Open title in 2005.

There are also a slew of rivals to thwart off.

Ikeda, for one, is tipped to bounce back after a one-over 71 opener worth 53 points, the same output put in by reigning Malaysian Junior Open champion Ababa while Andie Unson, the low amateur in last week's The Country Club Invitational, carded a two-over 72 and stood four points behind with 52 in a tie with Lovelynn Guioguio.

Dottie Ardina, who nipped Ikeda with a final hole birdie to win last year's crown in Iloilo, groped for form despite the absence of the wind at the tree-lined, par-70 layout, hobbling with 50 points, four-over par 74 in stroke play in the tournament backed by the Philippine Sports Commission, Kaiser International, Directories Phils. Corp (DPC) Yellow Pages, Hans Brumann Jeweler, WWWExpress, DHL Express and Business Inn, the official hotel.

Sunshine Baraquiel also scored 50 points while Kristine Leonen and Pamela Mariano turned in identical 48 points. Cara Golez had 47 points and Eva Minoza and Gaby Monfort carded a 46 and a 42, respectively.

Meanwhile, Arianne Salvador paced Class B with 44 points while Ana Luisa Mendoza shot 37 points to lead in Class C.PR

3-way battle looms as So Ladies fires off

Andie Unson tries to foil the highly anticipated Dottie Ardina-Chihiro Ikeda showdown as she joins the title hunt in the Southern Ladies golf tournament which beginsThursday, Feb. 3 at the Bacolod Golf and Country Club in Murcia, Bacolod.
Her confidence boosted by her victory in the last week’s The Country Club Invitational where she emerged the low amateur, Unson, 16, hopes to re-display her top form and play a more mature game in a bid to keep her win run going early in the season.
But the recent winner of the Philippine International Junior Golf crown will be facing a pair of aces out to redeem themselves from their failed bid at TCC with Ardina seeking a second straight championship in the 54-hole tournament organized and conducted by the National Golf Association of the Phils.
Ardina hit a birdie on final hole to nip Ikeda in a thrilling title duel last year in Iloilo with another down-to-the-wire finish again expected with Ikeda raring to get back at her tormentor and likewise add the crown to her Philippine Ladies Open diadem last month.
But focus will be on Unson, who hopes to compensate her drawback to Ardina and Ikeda off the tee with a solid iron game and steady putting over the tight, rolling fairways that require accurate iron shots.
“While premium is on driving on this course, I think Andie has a big chance because her ball striking is solid and she is playing with a lot of confidence and putts well,” said ICTSI golf team and national women’s team coach Bong Lopez.
The 48th staging of the annual event was launched yesterday through the traditional 18-hole Lam-Am tournament with Philippine Sports Commission chair Richie Garcia, Philippine Olympic Committee chair Monico Puentevella, NGAP sec-gen Edgar Arceo Jr., NGAP auditor and NGAP ladies committee head Alice Andrada and Murcia Mayor Andrew Montelibano, and Leandro Lopez Montelibano, treasurer of the host club, hitting the ceremonial drives.
Also on tap are the 36-hole team competition and the seniors division to be played under the Stableford scoring system (net of handicap).
The centerpiece event will be disputed under the Molave scoring format with Jayvie Agojo also fancied to contend for the crown in the tournament backed by the PSC, Kaiser International, Directories Phils. Corp (DPC) Yellow Pages, Hans Brumann Jeweler, WWWExpress, DHL Express and Business Inn, the official hotel.
Agojo, the former Phl Ladies Open winner, is trying to make a comeback to big-time golf after a long absence, falling short to nail her first victory with a runner-up finish in the recent China Amateur Open.
Also in the roster are veteran campaigner Lovelynn Guioguio, Sarah Ababa and Sunshine Baraquiel of the ICTSI golf squad and the leading players from Alabang, Tagaytay Highlands, Orchard, Aguinaldo, Iloilo, Bacolod, Valley, Pueblo de Oro, Villamor and Riviera.(pr)