Juvic Pagunsan tied for 5th, three strokes off lead after Round 1 of Olympics golf

Philippine golf bet Juvic Pagunsan opened his campaign in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics strong.

Pagunsan finished with a 5-under par 66, good enough for a tie for fifth to seventh places, in the first round of the men's individual stroke play Thursday at the Kasumigaseki Country Club.

The 43-year-old is currently in a three-way tie with Joachim Hansen of Denmark and Jhonattan Vegas of Venezuela, three strokes off of leader Sepp Straka of Austria, who scored an 8-under 63 to lead the field of 60 competitors after one round.

In second place is Jazz Janewattananond of Thailand (-7), while Thomas Pieters of Belgium and Carlos Ortiz of Mexico are tied for third (-6).

The golfers will play four rounds of 18 holes each before the final standing is determined. The men's field will return to action for Round 2 on Friday, July 30.

Aside from Pagunsan, other Filipino golfers in Yuka Saso and Bianca Pagdanganan are also set to make their debut on August 4.

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA News