Juvic faces Thai golf elite cast

MANILA, Philippines - Juvic Pagunsan formalizes his claim on this year’s Asian Tour Order of Merit crown as he joins the stellar field in the season-ending Thailand Golf Championship beginning today in Chonburi, Thailand where Filipino teener Miguel Tabuena fights to keep his tour card next year.

Pagunsan hopes to extend his rich vein of form by winning the inaugural $1 million event at the Amata Spring Country Club against a field that includes world No. 3 Lee Westwood, Major winners Darren Clarke and Charl Schwartzel, Japanese star Ryo Ishikawa, Spaniard Sergio Garcia, American John Daly and Korea’s Kim Kyung-tae. Since last month, Pagunsan has enjoyed top-10s in Taipei and Hong Kong as well as a runner-up finish at the lucrative Barclays Singapore Open which pushed him to the Merit summit.

“I try to win every week so I’ll try my best again this week. It is a tough field but I’ll try my best. To be honest, the feeling of winning the Order of Merit has not sunk in yet. It still feels like a normal tournament to me,” said Pagunsan.

Pagunsan drew a 12:05 p.m. flight with Simon Dyson and Japan’s Tetsuji Hiratsuka on No. 1.

The other Filipino campaigners are Frankie Miñoza, Angelo Que, Elmer Salvador and Mars Pucay.

Meanwhile, the 16-year-old Tabuena, the youngest member on the Asian Tour this year, is currently three spots outside the top-61 of the OOM which is the cut-off for players to secure full playing rights for the 2012 season. 

Ranged against a stellar field, Tabuena admitted he’s a bit pressured as he seeks to ensure a successful rookie season on Asia’s elite circuit.

“I’m feeling nervous. I hope to get a good start on Thursday but anything can happen,” said Tabuena, who came through Qualifying School while still as an amateur.

“I’m very happy to be in the field (as he was on the reserve list till Monday). It gives me a last chance to be in the top-61 and I hope I do well. It was a nervous wait but my coach Rick Gibson just told me to take a flight to Thailand.

“There was no pressure in Q-school but there’s more pressure here now. This is my living and we’re playing for money. Rick and Angelo Que have given me a lot of encouragement.”

With $59,447 to his name this year, Tabuena enjoyed a career first top-five on the Asian Tour at last month’s Mercuries Taiwan Masters which boosted his hopes of securing his card. He followed up with a tied 29th  outing at the co-sanctioned Iskandar Johor Open in Malaysia.

“I’ve been playing good the past four weeks,” said Tabuena, who is home schooled. “I’ve learned a lot this year. I’m happy I turned pro. I’ve learned a lot and it’s all part of the process. You need to have a lot of self-confidence and you need to work hard. It’s not easy to be at the top. If you work hard, you’ll be rewarded.

“I’ll try to make the cut first here, which is the first goal and then play aggressive and see how well I can do,” he added.