Juvic ends up joint 2nd

MANILA, Philippines - Juvic Pagunsan turned in another bogey-free round, this time a six-under 66, and finished joint second with two others in the weather-suspended final round of the $1 million Jakarta PGA Championship at the Emeralda Golf Club in Indonesia yesterday.

Korean Choi Ho-sung birdied the par-5 17th to regain a one-stroke lead over Pagunsan and another Korean Song Young-han then waited for nearly three hours when play was suspended due to threat of lightning before clinching a two-stroke victory.

Choi birdied the 18th to finish with a 67 and a 269 and frustrate Pagunsan, Song and Japan’s Kaname Yokoo, who all had hoped for a Choi closing bogey to force a playoff. Yokoo also had a 67 while Song made a 68 to tie Pagunsan at 271.

Choi, however, had other things in mind.

Choi took the top $180,000 purse while Pagunsan, Song and Yokoo got $75,000 each worth P3 million.

Pagunsan, who put himself in contention by firing a flawless seven-under 65 Saturday, sustained his hot streak, hitting four birdies at the front before holing out with back-to-back birdies for a 32-34 card.

It came after he sizzled with seven birdies in the third round as he came out from nowhere to close within four off Choi with one round left.

Pagunsan actually gained a share of the lead after Choi bogeyed No. 15 and Song birdied the 18th but Choi picked himself up with a birdie on the 17th to snatch another one-shot lead with one hole left to play.

It was Pagunsan’s best-ever 36 holes where he went 13-under. He actually shot 16-under in the last 40 holes, including three straight birdies from No. 15 in the second round.