Closing bogey costs Pagunsan solo lead

Juvic Pagunsan put on an amazing show of shotmaking to fire a seven-under par 65 yesterday and gain a share of the lead with Aussie Scott Hend halfway through the Volvo Masters of Asia in Bangkok.

A final hole-mishap, however, denied Pagunsan of grabbing the solo lead as he bogeyed the tough par-4 18th of the Thai Country Club for the second straight day and settled for a 32-33 card.

But the 29-year-old Pagunsan, seeking a second victory on the tour after scoring a breakthrough win in the inaugural Pertamina Indonesia President Invitational last October, had hit enough birdies – eight – to assure himself of a spot at the top with a 36-hole aggregate of 135.

That was the same output put in by Hend, who bucked a double-bogey 6 on No. 15 with a birdie-birdie windup for a 67, pouncing on Pagunsan’s lone bogey for a two-shot swing and a share of the lead.

“I hit it really good today and drove it well. I think the key was also my putting which was really good,” said Pagunsan, last year’s Rookie of the Year, who used his putter only 22 times.

 “After winning in the Pertamina Indonesia President Invitation, my confidence is really high. It was a big help in my career. I trust myself and I will try to play well again for the next two days here,” said Pagunsan.

Scott Strange, the former Philippine Open champion whose 65 netted him the first round lead in the $750,000 tournament, the last leg of the 2007 Asian Tour, also holed out with a birdie to salvage a one-under 71 although he slid to joint third with fellow Aussie Mark Brown at 136, one shot adrift.

Brown turned in a bogey-free 66 to tie Strange.

Frankie Miñoza, impressive with a near-flawless 67 in the first round, lost his rhythm and fumbled with five bogeys with only a birdie to show in a 38-38 round for a 76 as he tumbled from joint second to 27th with a 143.

But two other Filipinos moved up the leaderboard as Angelo Que and Gerald Rosales came through with identical four-under 68s for a share of sixth place with five others at 138, three shots adrift.

Tony Lascuña also wavered with a 74 and dropped from seventh to joint 22nd at 142 while Artemio Murakami, winner of the Johor Open, matched par 72 to tie Miñoza at 143.

Prom Meesawat, the youthful Thai campaigner, shot a 67 to stay within striking distance at 137 while Simon Yates of Scotland (69), Thai Prayad Marksaeng (71), Lee Sung of Korea (70), Aussie Gavin Flint (68) and Englishman Chris Rodgers (68) tied Que and Rosales at sixth, ensuring a shootout heading into the weekend play.

Pagunsan nearly shot down the field with a flawless eight-under card after 17 holes.