Juvic Pagunsan now world’s No. 177

KUALA LUMPUR—Juvic Pagunsan, the new Asian Tour Order of Merit leader, has broken into the world’s Top 200 following his runner-up finish at the Barclays Singapore Open on Monday.

The Filipino rose more than 300 spots to his current 177th position after picking up 27.6 points on the Official World Golf ranking.

The man of the moment, the 33-year-old Pagunsan will seek to overcome his playoff defeat with a victory at the $2 million Iskandar Johor Open in Malaysia starting on Thursday.

Pagunsan said he is still feeling the adrenaline rush from his Monday playoff and will look to make amends against a stellar lineup at the Horizon Hills Golf and Country Club.

He will contend with titleholder Padraig Harrington of Ireland and a host of golf’s brightest stars in the event co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour.

“It is fantastic to be playing in my first Asian Tour event as the Order of Merit leader,” he said. “I still feel like I’m in the groove.

“There’s more pressure now,” added Pagunsan, who picked up $666,660 (about P28 million) at the Singapore, Asia’s richest national championship.