Pagunsan grabs lead in Riviera Classic

Juvic Pagunsan came up with a three-under-par 69 at the Couples course to seize a one-shot lead against Richard Sinfuego with one round left in the P1-million ICTSI-Riviera Classic at the Riviera Golf Club in Silang, Cavite. Pagunsan, the 32-year-old Asian Tour veteran who has not been on the winning track this year, birdied three of the last eight holes to finish with a five-under-par 139 in the second round of the 54-hole tournament which serves as the third leg of the ICTSI Philippine Golf Tour.

The Bacolod native actually started with a bogey on first but recovered with a birdie at Nos. 2 and 4. He dropped a shot with another bogey on the seventh, a par-five, before a birdie on the ninth gave him a one-under-par 35 at the turn. He managed consecutive birdies on Nos. 11 and 12 and the last coming on the 15th. The former Asian Tour top rookie settled for routine pars the rest of the way to move on the threshold of a maiden victory on the local tour. “My game’s picking up well. It was a feeling out round on Wednesday. Today, I felt great," said the soft-spoken Pagunsan, Sinfuego, had his own version of a 69 in the opener. He survived a harrowing backside game of 40 as he fought back with a solid five-under-par 31 at the front that he highlighted with an ace the eighth. He salvaged a 71 and stayed in the hunt for the top P200,000 purse with a 140. He used a Westwood 7-iron and a Titleist No. 4 ball in scoring his first ace as a pro, which netted him P10,000 cash and P10,000 worth of gift certificates at Riviera's pro shop and restaurant courtesy of the host club. Opening round leader Omar Dungca, after a brilliant 68, sputtered with a two-over 74 to drop to third with a 142, three shots off Pagunsan. Rey Pagunsan carded a second straight 71, so did Gene Bondoc as they joined Dungca in third place later in the day. Unheralded Elmer Saban rallied with a 33 at the back to fire a 70 and join Mars Pucay, Tony Lascuna and Orlan Sumcad in sixth at 143. Ferdie Aunzo carded a 73 while Danny Zarate groped with a 75 as they joined unknown Rico Depilo (72) at 10th with 144 while Ronaldo Cadayong carded a 73 for a 145. Elmer Salvador, the reigning RP Open champion and winner of the first leg at Mt. Malarayat, fired a 71 to force a five-way tie at 14th at 146 with Joenard Rates (71), Dutch Guido Van der Valk (72), Artemio Murakami (72) and Angelo Que (75). Jay Bayron also recovered a bit with a 72 after an opening 78 for a 150 while Marvin Dumandan, winner at Sherwood, also had a 72 after a woeful 80 to miss the cut pegged at 151. Gerald Rosales, the former RP Open winner, turned in a 73 and lay eight shots off the pace at 147 in a tie with Michael Bibat (73) and Antonio Asistio II (74). – JVP/Adrian Flores, GMANews.TV