HONG KONG—Juvic Pagunsan sustained his bid to become the first Filipino to win the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit crown by firing a solid 2-under-par 68 at the start of the UBS Hong Kong Open Thursday.
Pagunsan birdied the two par-5 holes and had another birdie tonullify a three-putt bogey on No. 10 as he emerged as Asia’s best finisher along with Korean star YE Yang and Thailand’s Kiradech Aphibarnrat, four strokes behind three co-leaders headed by reigning US Open champion Rory McIllroy.
“Tough day. It was cold. I didn’t expect this. Hopefully the sun comes out tomorrow. It’s still a good round, two under in these tough conditions. I hit it really good and made only one mistake,” said Pagunsan, who had nines of 34-34 at the wind-swept Hong Kong Golf Club.
Pagunsan’s closest rival in the merit race, SSP Chowrasia of India, struggled to a 74 to leave himself in danger of missing the halfway cut on Friday.
Mars Pucay and Antonio Lascuña, the two other Filipinos in this penultimate tournament on the Asian Tour, carded identical 2-over 72s.
McIlroy of Northern Ireland tamed swirling winds to sink six birdies and was joined at the top of the leaderboard by Spaniard Alvaro Quiros and England’s David Horsey.