Pagunsan seeks fifth win at ICTSI-Del Monte

MANILA, Philippines - His appetite for winning not waning a bit, Juvic Pagunsan sets out as the heavy favorite when action in the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour shifts to Bukidnon with the ICTSI-Del Monte Championship on Aug. 17-19 at the Del Monte Golf Club in Cawayanon, Manolo Fortich.

Pagunsan heads the same talent-laden field he dominated with a four-stroke victory in the ICTSI Apo Golf Invitational in Davao last Friday, his fourth after eight legs of the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

And unless the likes of Elmer Salvador, Tony Lascuña, Angelo Que, Mars Pucay, Jhonnel Ababa, Marvin Dumandan, Artemio Murakami and Jay Bayron come up with solid games next week, there could be no stopping the smooth-swinging Negrense from booking another win.

What could spur Pagunsan to add another leg title to his growing list of victories is the drive to redeem himself from last year’s boner when he, along with Salvador and Richard Sinfuego, were disqualified on a final hole infraction, enabling Cassius Casas to snatch the win in Del Monte.

But the way Pagunsan is playing and dominating the field, experts believe there’s no need for an added motivation.

It’s the rest of the starting 75-man field that should show their drive and desire to win and put an end to Pagunsan’s domination of the circuit sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc.

“He’s playing in a zone. But I think it’s still anybody’s game in Bukidnon,” said Casas in Filipino.

Salvador, for one, hopes to sustain his stirring final round 64 at Apo which, however, proved short to ever pose a threat to Pagunsan’s overwhelming lead.

Pagunsan used two 66s to whip the field and annex his fourth leg triumph after ruling the Royal Northwoods, Orchard and Eastridge stages of the circuit backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Unilab, BDO, Titleist, Sharp, Custom Clubmakers, Mizuno, Empire Golf & Sports Shop, PinoyGolfer.com, Inquirer Golf, Omnisource International, A Round of Golf, Studio 23, Balls, and Dynamic Sports.

The win, worth another P200,000, raised his earnings to P1,354,605 and firmed up his hold of the lead in the Order of Merit derby.

Salvador also hiked his output to P573,244 but remained more than twice behind Pagunsan’s while Lascuña is in third with P543,144 followed by Ababa, winner of the ICTSI-Iloilo Golf Challenge, who has P469,796.

Bayron, the reigning OOM champion, is in fifth with P368,494 followed by Dumandan (P293,482), Miguel Tabuena (274,994), Orlan Sumcad (P265,500), Que, winner of ICTSI-Mt. Malarayat leg, (P247,000) and ICTSI-Negros Occidental Classic winner Robert Pactolerin (P243,500).