Juvic rallies with 68, moves to joint 12th

MANILA, Philippines - Juvic Pagunsan recovered from an opening hole bogey at the back with four birdies as he shot a three-under 68 to jump from joint 20th to a share of 12th halfway through the Bridgestone Open at the Sodegaura Country Club course in Chiba, Japan yesterday.

Pagunsan, coming off an inspiring joint third place finish in last week’s Japan Open where he pocketed P4.5 million, leaned on his putting anew in the closing holes at the front, making two one-putts for pars on Nos. 6 and 7 before birdying the par-3 No. 8 to complete a 34-34 card.

It was a big rebound from a bogey mishap to start his round at No. 10 before the Filipino ace shotmaker birdied No. 12 and the two par-5s on Nos. 16 and 18 to get going. He missed a couple of birdie chances at the front but made two big saves.

With a 139 total, Pagunsan remained four strokes adrift as Eun Shin Park fired a 64 to force a three-way tie for the lead at 135 with Daisuke Maruyama and Toru Taniguchi, who fired a 67 and 68, respectively.

Over in Malaysia, Mars Pucay carded a 70 and dropped to joint 12th at 210, six shots off Thai Kwanchai Tannin in the third round of the PGM ASEAN PGA Negeri Sembilan Masters at the Seremban International Golf Club also yesterday.

Mhark Fernando, fresh from his victory at ICTSI Riviera Classic of the Philippine Golf Tour, fired a 68 to move to joint 14th at 211 although the Filipino bet stood far behind Tannin, who pooled a 204 after a 69, for a one-stroke lead over Rattanon Wannasrichan, who a made a 69 for a 205.