Juvic officially crowned new No.1

Juvic Pagunsan

CHONBURI, Thailand—Juvic Pagunsan was officially crowned the new Asian Tour Order of Merit champion at the season-ending Thailand Golf Championship on Sunday, making him the first Filipino to lift the trophy.

Pagunsan topped the rankings with a princely haul of $788,298 highlighted by his second-place finish at the $6-million Barclays Singapore Open followed by top-10 finishes at the UBS Hong Kong Open, ISPS and a Singapore Classic and Taiwan Masters.

“I’m very happy to be the first Filipino to win this prestigious award,” he said. “Honestly, I’m shocked that I’ve won it but it is a fantastic feeling. I’m glad I’ve been given this opportunity to win such an honor. Without the Asian Tour there’s no Juvic Pagunsan.”

He struggled with his form earlier in the year but his second-place finish in Singapore, where he lost in a playoff, earned him a cool $666,660, and propelled him to the summit of the money list from 64th position.

“Before the Singapore Open, I was down on the Order of Merit and my card wasn’t safe for 2012, so I told myself I needed to focus more and push myself to the limits,” said Pagunsan, who has won once on the Asian Tour. “I’m glad it worked out.”

With his amazing victory, Pagunsan’s name will be etched alongside past Asian Tour No. 1s including multiple winners Thongchai Jaidee and Jeev Milkha Singh, 2010 champion Noh Seung-yul of South Korea, Arjun Atwal of India and Liang Wen-chong of China.

Asian Tour executive chair Kyi Hla Han lauded Pagunsan’s achievement, saying the success will boost the popularity of the game in the Philippines.

As Order of Merit champion, Pagunsan will be exempt in next year’s British Open and the World Golf Championship-Cadillac Championship in the United States.

“I’m looking forward to playing in the British Open,” said the Filipino.”

The Asian Tour was formed in 1995, replacing what was then known as the Asian Golf Circuit where Frankie Miñoza and Ben Arda also emerged as Merit winners.