Birdie binge keys Juvic romp; Jayvie leads

CANLUBANG — Juvic Pagunsan closed out his second round stint in the DHL-WWWExpress National Amateur Golf Championships the way he started it — with a three-birdie string — as the club bet took charge with a 66 and a one-stroke lead over Southwoods’ Tonton Asistio halfway through the 10th DHL-WWWExpress National Amateur Golf Championships here yesterday.

Pagunsan, two down behind four leaders when he teed off at the backside, rattled off nine birdies in all to go five-under at 139 and wrest the lead from Boyet Saragoza, JR Tanpinco, Michael Bibat and Asistio.

A bogey on No. 8 slowed down his charge and after he dropped another stroke on No. 5, Pagunsan birdied Nos. 7, 8 and 9 and found himself atop the heap.

That was one-stroke ahead of Asistio, the youthful campaigner who hung tough with a 69 for a 140 while Saragoza, another Cangolf bet, stayed in the hunt for a first-ever crown with a 70 for a 141.

Jun Bernis, who held off teammate Pagunsan’s final round rally to win the crown last year, also moved up after a disastrous 75 in the opening round as the 31-year-old shotmaker fired a 69 to be at 144.

That was later matched by Artemio Murakami, the former national amateur champion, who kept Southwoods teammate Asistio company in the face of an anticipated charge by the club bets in the event sponsored by DHL World Express and WWWExpress.

"Nat’yempo lang na maganda ang round ko ngayon," said Pagunsan, the many-time spearhead of the national team in various international competitions and the best Filipino finisher at second in last year’s Philippine Open. "Sana ganito din bukas (today)."

That remains to be seen as a host of others will surely go flat out to stay close to him heading into the final round of this annual event organized and conducted by the National Golf Association of the Philippines.

Jayvie Agojo lived up to her pre-tournament hype as she carded a 74 from nines of 38-36 to post a four-stroke lead over World Amateurs teammates Lora Roberto and Anya Tanpinco and Lee Seo Jae, who all had 78s.

Home bet Lina de Guzman failed to come up with a solid round and struggled with a 79, while jungolfer Dottie Ardina, another club bet, made an 81 to tie Debbie de Villa and Regina de Guzman at sixth place.

Former RP Ladies Open winner Carmelette Villaroman shot herself in the foot with an 83 and would need a pair of spectacular rounds to at least put herself back in contention in the 54-hole event.

Also staying in the race in men’s play were Erwin Vinluan, who had a 145 after matching par 72, while Gene Bondoc, Marvin Dumandan and Tanpinco stood at 146 with 71, 72 and 75, respectively.