Ababa, ‘other’ Pagunsan set pace in PGTA Riviera

SILANG, Cavite, Philippines — Jhonnel Ababa stumbled at the finish for a one-under 70 but held on to a share of the lead with Rey Pagunsan as a slew of others surged then plunged while tackling the wind-raked par-71 Langer layout here yesterday.

Save for one or two, wobbly windups marred the first round of the ICTSI Riviera Golf Challenge with Ababa barely surviving despite two bogeys in the last four holes.

“The wind was strong and the greens were unreceptive. I was lucky to have shot a 70,” said Ababa, who won the last Philippine Golf Tour Asia event with a successful title-retention feat at Pradera Verde last January.

But while Ababa’s early rise is expected, Pagunsan’s wasn’t with the 50-year-old former amateur hotshot’s campaign in the last few years marred by missed cut stints and poor finishes.

“The course is tough and the strong wind made it tougher, especially for the late starters,” said Pagunsan, who only won three times (Aguinaldo, Midlands and Southwoods) in a 22-year pro career.

Pagunsan, a former national team member seeking an end to a long, title drought, made just one other birdie against a bogey at the back but spiked his 34-36 card with eight scrambling pars at the unreceptive greens that proved to be the norm at the exacting layout.

Seven players churned out identical even par 71 outputs in the $100,000 event, including fancied Juvic Pagunsan, Ira Alido, Jerson Balasabas, Rolando Marabe, Tony Lascuña and Elmer Salvador and American Lexus Keoninh, while eight turned in 72s and a host of others stood just a stroke or two behind in a kind of wild start expected at the hazard-laden, rolling par-71 course.

Juvic Pagunsan, priming up for next week’s Solaire Philippine Open like majority of the rest, mixed three birdies with the same number of bogeys while saving pars six times that he went out of regulation, putting himself in early contention for a follow-up to his victory in PGT Bacolod last year.