Juvic posts 1-shot edge over Elmer

MANILA, Philippines - Juvic Pagunsan made an impressive return to the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour as he fired a four-under par 68 to open a one-shot lead over Elmer Salvador at the start of the P1 million ICTSI-Canlubang Golf Invitational at Cangolf’s north course in Laguna yesterday.

Flashing his familiarity with the layout he calls home, the 31-year-old Pagunsan briefly struggled on the hardened putting surface but settled down just in time to produce six birdies against two bogeys as he set in motion his bid to duplicate his wire-to-wire triumph at ICTSI-Apo Invitational last July.

But Salvador also proved up to the challenge as the two-leg winner turned in a three-under 69 in a solid start for the soft-spoken Davaoeño shotmaker chasing the Order of Merit title in the revival of the local golf circuit sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

Jay Bayron, winner at ICTSI-Forest Hills, shot a two-under 70 for third while unheralded Venjo Reyes blew a five-under card with a sputtering finish, settling for a 71 and dropping into a tie with five others.

Gene Bondoc, Erwin Vinluan, Anthony Fernando, Louie Dacudao and Ricky Marcelo were the other one-under par scorers in the tournament backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Pisanti, Srixon, FAMI, Business Mirror, Motorola, Omnisource, Nike Golf, Tiger Gatorade and Pepsico.

Pagunsan, who had not seen action on the local tour since beating Jerome Delariarte and Artemio Murakami by six strokes at Apo, had a two-birdie, two-bogey stint after six holes at the back. But he holed with back-to-back birdies then gunned down two birdies on Nos. 2 and 7 for a 34-34 card.

That was enough to give him the lead in the final leg of the 10-stage circuit with the smooth swinging shotmaker, the best Filipino placer on the Asian Tour at No. 16, hoping to pad his lead when he resumes his bid at 7:20 a.m. when condition is expected to be at its best.

Vinluan bucked an early double-bogey mishap and shot four birdies against a bogey to lead the 71 scorers in the morning flight that included Dacudao and Reyes.

Reyes actually led the star-studded field after nine holes behind a sizzling 31 at the front when he birdied five straight holes from No. 5. But after a slew of pars at the back, he failed to endure the pressure and bogeyed four of the last six holes to drop into a tie for third.

Reigning Philippine Open champion Angelo Que carded a two-over 74 in a tie with ICTSI-Eagle Ridge winner Marvin Dumandan while Ferdie Aunzo, who ruled the ICTSI-Royal Northwoods leg, limped home with a 78.

Solomon Gines rallied with four birdies against a bogey at the back to salvage a 33 and an even par 72, the same output put in by Ronald Pactolerin and Noli Kempis while the rest of the 120-man field, including 20 amateurs, struggled on the challenging layout and sleek putting surface.