Fine starts for Juvic, Pucay

Juvic Pagunsan started strong in the $8-million Casio World Open in the Japan Tour while Mars Pucay trailed behind the leader by six strokes as the best scorer among six Filipinos in the $750,000 Indonesia Open of the Asia Golf Tour on Thursday.

Pagunsan, the 2011 Asian Tour Order of Merit champion, carded an even-par 72 and stood just three shots behind Australian Kurt Barnes, who fired a 69 to pace the rich tournament in Koichi, Japan.

In Jakarta, Pucay was the only Filipino to break par with a 1-under 70 that still left him six strokes off leader Gaganjeet Bhular of India who scorched the Domai Indah Golf course with a 64.

Angelo Que, fresh from a World Cup stint with Antonio Lascuña last week in Melbourne, managed a 72 like Elmer Salvador.

Teener Miguel Tabuena had a 73, Lascuña came up with a 74 while Jay Bayron seemed out of it with an 81. Asian Tour News