Urica, Negros Occidental – Juvic Pagunsan picked up an easy win here yesterday ahead of Father’s Day and of his title defense in nearby Marapara next week, outclassing a crack international field with his superb form for a whopping seven-stroke romp over Rufino Bayron in the P2.5 million ICTSI Bacolod Golf Challenge.
Four shots ahead of Bayron and Marcos Pastor at the start of the final round, Pagunsan actually staggered with a one-over card after six holes, enabling the Spanish ace to pull within one with birdies on Nos. 2 and 5 and a slew of the others to close in with their own fine starts.
But Pagunsan quickly put an end to their threat as he rediscovered his touch, rattling off three straight birdies from No. 7 to go three-up again on Pastor before putting the outcome beyond doubt with a birdie on the 12th and another three-birdie binge from No. 14.
“I was a bit nervous at the start but after I birdied No. 7, I kind of regained my confidence and got my game back,” said Pagunsan, who finished with a 20-under 260 that included 68 and 65 in the first two rounds before seizing firm control with a 63 Friday, in Filipino.
The victory, worth P450,000, marked the Japan PGA Tour-based shotmaker’s return to the circuit put up by ICTSI and more than boosted his stock going to next week’s Negros Occidental Classic which he won via sudden death over Jobim Carlos last year.
Four up over his nearest pursuer after 12 holes, the region’s former No. 1 still went for more, birdying Nos. 14, 15 and 16 from close range then parred the last two to complete the big romp in the P2.5 million championship which served as the second of a four-stage Visayan swing of the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.
“I always give my 100 percent even when I have a big lead. I take my game seriously that’s why some, even my co-players, mistakenly find me snobbish and conceited. But that’s really my style. When I’m on the course, my mindset is to stay focused because you develop bad habits if you don’t,” said Pagunsan.
Bayron hit just one birdie in 12 holes but gunned down three in the next five and took solo second at 267 despite a bogey on the 18th for a 67 for his best finish, worth P320,000, in a long while since winning in the other regional event at Orchard in 2014.
Ira Alido, who had hoped to slug it out with Pagunsan after a second round 65 but failed to get a crack, mounted his own fightback with an eagle-spiked 66, finishing tied for third with Richard SInfuego at 269. They split the combined P320,000 purse
Sinfuego also ended a long string of poor finishes on the Philippine Golf Tour with a closing five-under card sparked by four birdies at the front while Aussie Fidel Concepcion likewise rode on a four-under card at the front then hit another birdie on No. 15 only to reel back with a double-bogey on the 17th for a 67. He placed solo fifth at 270.
Pastor, who had looked forward to sustaining the foreigners’ early surge in the milestone 10th season of the PGT after Dutch Guido Van der Valk scored a wire-to-wire triumph at Club Filipino de Cebu Invitational last week, blew a solid 32 start with a faltering finish, dropping a stroke on No. 12 and limping with a triple-bogey on No. 14. He tumbled to sixth at 271 after a one-over 71.
Van der Valk gunned down four birdies against a bogey after 15 holes but yielded two strokes in the last three and settled for a 69 for seventh at 273 while Tony Lascuña also carded a 69 for eighth at 274 and Jhonnel Ababa leaned on a four-birdie binge from No. 2 for a 66 for ninth at 275.
First day co-leader Michael Bibat birdied No. 15 and eagled the next to fire a 67 and finish tied for 10th at 276 with Jerson Balasabas and Clyde Mondilla, who both carded 67s in the event backed by Custom Clubmakers, Meralco, Champion, Summit Mineral Water, K&G Golf Apparel, BDO, Sharp, KZG, PLDT and M.Y. Shokai Technology, Inc.