Pucay fires 68, cruises to victory

Mars Pucay shot a final round four-under-par 68 yesterday and coasted to a three-stroke victory over Rey Pagunsan in the Philippine leg of the Asean Tour at the Mt. Malarayat Golf Club in Lipa City, Batangas yesterday.

Pucay, tied for the lead with Orlan Sumcad at the start of the final round, played a solid round capped by a birdie-birdie finish then watched Sumcad waver with a mediocre round of 72 to run away with the second leg crown of the fledgling tour with a 280 total.

That was three shots better than Pagunsan, who fought back from a so-so opening of 75 with a run of under-par rounds, including a closing 69 that gave him a four-day aggregate of 283.

Pagunsan, who started the day two shots off the joint leaders, actually moved to within one of Pucay after an eagle 3 on the 17th. But he bogeyed the final hole, enabling Pucay to coast to the win worth $4,895.

Sumcad failed to break par when he needed it most, negating a two-under card in the frontside with bogeys on Nos. 10 and 11. He settled for third with a 284 worth $1,910.

“I just felt that there were some holes on the course which I had to play aggressively,” Pucay said. “This is a good send-off for me considering that the big legs of the Asian Tour are coming up.”

Ferdinand Aunzo won the low amateur honors, actually finishing tied with Sumcad after carding a 71 to win by four shots over ICTSI teammate Jay Bayron, who carded a 75 for a 288.

Flu-stricken second round leader Artemio Murakami turned in another 74 to likewise finish at 288, while Jun Rates, a club pro here like Sumcad, assembled the same score to finish at 289.

Danny Zarate cracked par for the first time in three days, his 69 giving him a 290 total to finish inside the Top 10 like Asian Tour veteran Angelo Que.

The winner of the Carlsberg Masters Vietnam in 2005, Que, after a 72-75 start, submitted a second straight 71 to share seventh place with Zarate.

There were no foreigners in the Top 10, with Malaysian M. Sasidaran sharing 11th spot with Marvin Dumandan after turning in a 73 for 291. Dumandan rallied with a 70.