Pagunsan moves up to fourth in world amateurs

RIO GRANDE, Puerto Rico – With Juvic Pagunsan again as the only one playing true to form, the Philippines faltered in the second round Saturday of the 2004 World Amateur Golf Team Championships at the Rio Mar Country Club.

The 25-year-old Pagunsan submitted a 2-under-par 70 at the River Course to add to his opening-day 69 at the Ocean Course to go 5-under, but his consistency couldn’t rub off on his teammates Artemio Murakami and Michael Bibat.

Not even the cooler conditions prevailing almost all day-long yesterday in contrast to a sunny, but searing day in Round 1 was of any help to Pagunsan’s teammates in the 66-nation, three-to-play, two-to-count format ending Nov. 1.

The 21-year-old Murakami couldn’t shake off errant tee shots and a disobedient putter to shoot 78, the same score carried home by Bibat, the Singapore Amateur Open champion only some weeks back.

Bibat, at 20 already a towering 6-foot-2, got hit by a triple bogey on his second hole, couldn’t climb out of that pit to go out with a 42. He needed tons of guts to steady himself and came home with a 36 even as he missed makeable birdie putts at least thrice, the last two from at least five feet.

With their two-day, 4-over-par 148 total, the Filipinos, whose trip was sponsored and supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Airlines, Mizuno, Master Sports, Boardwalk, Stronghold Insurance Co., Inc., Dynamic Sports (distributor of Titleist), Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club, Riviera Golf Club, Alabang Country Club, Villamor Golf Club, Camp Aguinaldo Golf Club, Canlubang Golf and Country Club and TAT Filipinas Golf and Country Club, were at 291 and appeared out of it.

Even their dream of duplicating the Philippines’ third-place finish in Kuala Lumpur two years ago seemed to have virtually vanished into thin air.

"Obviously, Temyong (Murakami) and Mike (Bibat) have fallen victim to rookie jitters," said NGAP president and non-playing team captain Benny Gopez, dejected over the two boys’ seeming inability to overcome awesome pressure under the glare of world-class play.

In their Round 1 play, Murakami and Bibat debuted with similar 74s as the Philippines finished tied for 16th with nine others with a 1-under-par total that had stood, at one time, at 4-under.

After two days, the United States took an imposing eight-stroke lead over Spain behind reigning American amateur champion Ryan Moore (65-67), Lee Williams (67-73) and Spencer Levin (70-69).

The Americans were at 20-under-par with their 268 (132-136) as against Spain’s 12-under-par 276 (139-137).

Tied with the Philippines at 25th spot among a record 66 countries are Portugal, India, Scotland and Peru, each with identical 3-over-par 291.

Pagunsan, part of the 2002 third-placed team in the Kuala Lumpur edition in the company of now-professionals Angelo Que and Jerome Delariarte, could have done better if not for that out-of-bounds double bogey on 13 that somehow triggered a mini-collapse.

"If not for that miscue coming off a hooked tee shot, I would have put the course on fire," said in jest in Pilipino by the lean but mean Pagunsan, who fired seven birdies yesterday for a total of 12 birdies in two days to move up into a tie for fourth spot with five others in the individuals, seven strokes down from American Ryan Moore who occupies the top spot.

Alternate Gene Bondoc, serving as utility officer for the team, let out a hearty laugh in agreement.