Pagunsan in good position to win at Royal Northwoods

Juvic Pagunsan usually wins tournaments every time he holds the lead entering the final round. He is again in a familiar position on Wednesday, after scoring a two-under 70 in the P1-million ICTSI-Royal Northwoods Championship in San Rafael, Bulacan. Pagunsan carded a bogey-free, three-under 33 in the last nine holes to buck a bad start at the front side. With a two-day haul of 136 in the 54-hole tournament, he moved into an expected victory in the last 18 of the second leg of the Philippine Golf Tour (PGT). Jay Bayron, the 2010 Order of Merit crown holder, stayed within striking distance on 137 after matching Pagunsan's output. He collected four birdies and a bogey coming home to be in contention for the P200,000 top prize. "I'm not satisfied with my putting but my approach shots clicked," said Bayron, who missed the cut in the OneAsia tournament in Indonesia last week. Former national champ Anthony Fernando had the chance to join Pagunsan at the top but he double-bogeyed the eighth, a par-four. He also made a 70 for 138 and will play in the championship flight. Newly-turned pro Carl Santos-Ocampo rallied with a sizzling 32 at the front, marred by a final hole bogey, as the Filipino-American 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. - Adrian Flores, JVP, GMA News