Juvic goes at it alone, keeps lead

BACOLOD, Philippines – Juvic Pagunsan played the last 11 holes literally by his lonesome – without the help of a caddie – and remained alone at the top with a brilliant three-under 67 yesterday.

Pagunsan blew his top over a “wrong allowance”– a wrong read on the putting line – on a par-putt bid from six feet at the par-3 No. 16 by caddie Joebert Miraveles, and dumped his bag-toter who had helped guide him to a tournament-leading, bogey-free 66 in the first round of the ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic here Wednesday the rest of the way.

But he proved he can get the job done as he ripped the frontside with a five-under 30 highlighted by four straight birdies from No. 4 where he had to pull out his driver, an iron and his trusted putter in between the putting green and the tee-box of each adjacent holes of the par-70 Negros Occidental Golf and Country Club to save energy.

He pooled a seven-under 133, his closing 30 more than made up for a two-over 37 at the back from where he teed off as he kept a one-shot lead over a steady Tony Lascuña, who turned in a second straight 67, heading into the final 18 holes of the P1 million event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

“Tingnan nyo na lang sa scorecard (Just look at my scorecard),” a fuming Pagunsan told when asked by mediamen, then stormed out of the clubhouse and sped away in his red Isuzu pickup.

Pagunsan, who opened his backside stint with a bogey on No. 11, rebounded with a birdie on No. 1 then knocked down birdies inside five feet from No. 4.

“Na-bwisit ata nung mali un binigay na allowance nung caddie sa No. 16 (He somewhat got mad when his caddie gave him a wrong allowance),” said flightmate Jun Bernis, referring to Pagunsan’s flubbed par putt after dumping his tee shot into the greenside bunker.

It was actually not the first time that Pagunsan, a three-leg winner this year who also kicked the sponsor’s streamer on one tee box, showed his displeasure as the former Asian Tour top rookie also made a scene when he pulled in the middle of the tournament during the ICTSI Forest Hills Classic last year.

In contrast, Lascuña stayed cool with another 67 then expressed confidence in a keenly awaited duel of a player on a win streak and one seeking an end to a long title drought.

“I’m on target but I still struggled on the slow surface,” said Lascuña in Filipino. He missed three birdie chances but expressed confidence in finally snapping a long title drought on the circuit.

His last win, interestingly, came at the expense of Pagunsan, whom he outlasted in a three-hole playoff in the 2008 Unity Cup tournament at Valley Golf Club.

Mhark Fernando, the former national amateur champion seeking a breakthrough win on the big league, matched Pagunsan’s 30 at the front as he shot one of the day’s best scores of 66 to join the chase for the top P200,000 purse in the event with a 136, four shots behind the leader.

The rest of the surviving 48-player field stood too far off the pace to pose as threats although veteran Robert Pactolerin flashed vintage form with a second 69 for fourth at 138.

Richard Sinfuego fired a 69 to tie Anthony Fernando (72) and Mars Pucay (71) at even 140 while Marvin Dumandan carded an even par 70 for a 141 and a share of eighth with Artemio Murakami (69), Gene Bondoc (72) and Jun Bernis, who rallied with the other 66.

Zanie Boy Gialon of ICTSI-The Country Club made a 72 for a 145 and remained the leading amateur at joint 24th while 12 players made the cut at 148, including Arnold Villacencio (72), Herman Umadhay (74), Peter Miñoza (76), Paolo San Gabriel (71), Elmer Saban (73), Godofredo SInfuego (77), amateur Raymond Jaraula (75), Ramil Bisera (73), Neil Catalan (73) Albin Engino (73), Cookie La’O (78) and James Ryan Lam (78).

The event, the sixth leg of the 17-stage circuit, is backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Unilab, BDO, Titleist, Sharp, Custom Clubmakers, Mizuno, PinoyGolfer.com <http://pinoygolfer.com/> , Inquirer Golf, Omnisource International, A Round of Golf, Studio 23, Balls, and Dynamic Sports.