Juvic wins big purse with big margin

CANLUBANG – No one, not even the great Frankie Miñoza or anyone among the past champions here, came close to beating Juvic Pagunsan in this year’s The Country Club Invitational golf tournament.

“Wala. Si Juvic lang ang magaling dito (Nothing. Juvic is the only one who’s good here),” said Miñoza, who watched from outside the green as Pagunsan sealed his one-sided victory with a tap-in par on No. 18.

Pagunsan, who beat Miñoza in a one-hole playoff for the 2006 TCC crown, led from start to finish, starting if off by matching his own course record of 64 in the opening day of the P4.5 million tournament.

And with 65 in the third round, Pagunsan reported for work yesterday six strokes ahead of his closest pursuers. Many believed all he needed to win his second title was to show up for his 9:30 a.m. tee-off time.

He did show up, and won by 11 strokes.

It was the biggest winning margin in the tournament’s six-year history. His 270 total, so far, is also the lowest winning score here at the TCC, the richest all-Filipino golf tournament in the country.

Pagunsan capped his four-day golf clinic with a one-under-par 69 then went home holding his five-year-old daughter LJ with one hand and the giant cup with the other.

He also had a juicy P1.3 milllion check in his pocket.

“Para sa family savings ito,” Pagunsan said, adding that his earnings are for the future of his family, including his wife, Elena, who came to watch the final round.

A birdie-birdie start was all the 29-year-old Pagunsan needed to seal the one-sided victory as the final round of the wind-swept tournament turned into a mere battle for second.

After Pagunsan holed out, he was greeted with cheers from the small gallery that followed him most of the day. He raised his right hand, smiled and tossed his ball to a friend.

Pagunsan, who broke par three times this week, said he’d take a very brief rest before returning to the course in preparation for the Indonesian Open scheduled on the second week of February.

Angelo Que, last year’s winner, was running third after three rounds, and just did the next best thing: finish second. He fired a 71 for a 281 total and a big consolation prize of a P667,710.

Mars Pucay struggled with a 74 in the third round then stayed on for hours practicing his putting. He was amply rewarded yesterday with a 70, a 282 total for solo third worth P433,290.

Benjie Magada was fourth at 283 after a 71, followed at 284 by Antonio Lascuna (72), Jay Bayron (71) and Ray Pagunsan (77), at 288 by Cassius Casas (77) and Marvin Dumandan (70) and at 289 by Frankie Miñoza (74).

Everybody was happy in the end since 21st and last place, which went to Anthony Balan, was worth P27,775.

In the amateur side, Ferdie Aunzo won the bragging rights with his final round 71 and a 285 total, good for nearly P200,000 if he were a pro.

Rufino Bayron was the next best amateur at 72-291 followed by reigning RP Ladies Open champion Chihiro Ikeda at 72-292, Gene Bondoc at 75-293, Anya Tanpinco at 76-295, Dante Bicierra at 77-301 and Anthony Fernando at 79-306.