Juvic drops to joint 12th in Japan Open, derails bid for title

MANILA, Philippines - Juvic Pagunsan continued to struggle and hobbled with a one-over 73, dropping to joint 12th and virtually bowing out of the title race in the Japan Open Golf Championship still paced by Satoshi Kodaira at the Rokko Kokusai Golf Club East Course in Hyogo yesterday.

The top Filipino shotmaker gunned down three birdies but fumbled with a double bogey on No. 10 and two bogeys, including one on the last hole that marred his 36-37 card. With a 213 aggregate after 54 holes, the opening day leader fell 11 strokes behind Kodaira, who cooled down with a 70 after a sizzling 62 Friday for a 203.

That was two shots ahead of last year’s champion Yuta Ikeda, who shot a 69 for a 205 while Song Young-han also fired a 69 to grab solo third at 207.

Like Pagunsan, Angelo Que floundered with a 74 ruined by two bogeys in the last four holes as the three-time Asian Tour champion slid to joint 27th at 216.

Over in Macau, Marvin Dumandan also faltered with a 73 and tumbled from 30th to a share of 46th in the Macau Open led by Scott Hend of Australia at the Macau Golf and Country Club yesterday.

Tony Lascuña hardly moved in the ranking with a one-over 72 for a 214.

Hend fired two eagles, including on the par-5 18th on his way to a 64 a 15-under 198 and a three-stroke lead over Indian Anirban Lahiri, who had a 201 after a 68.