STA. ROSA CITY—Two-time champion Juvic Pagunsan lived up to expectations by firing a steady even-par 70 Thursday to take a one-shot lead at the start of the The Country Club Invitational at the windswept TCC course here.
Relaxed and confident in his first tournament since claiming the Asian Tour Order of Merit title, Pagunsan gunned down two birdies against the same number of bogeys to pace Elmer Salvador, who shot a 71.
“The wind was crazy, unlike when I practiced here yesterday” said Pagunsan, the champion here in 2006 and 2008, in Filipino. “I’m confident I can still improve.”
The Bacolod-born shotmaker said the absence of pressure keyed his steady round.
“There’s no difference in my game after my Asian Tour success. I come to the course and play my game,” added Pagunsan, who is looking forward to stints in the World Golf Championship and British Open late this year.
Rufino Bayron and Carl Santos-Ocampo tied for third with identical 72s, while the revered Frankie Miñoza was in a six-player group tied for ninth to 14th with 73s.
Artemio Murakami, the winner in 2009, carded a 74 like Ramil Bisera, Cassius Casas, Randy Garalde, Dante Becierra and Mars Pucay, while two-time defending champion Angelo Que struggled to a 75 to tie Jay Bayron, Miguel Tabuena, Elmer Saban, Orlan Sumcad, Roberto Bernis Jr. and Richard Sinfuego.
Playing from the white tees, Jayvie Agojo shot a 69 to take a two-shot lead over Princess Superal in the field of seven women amateurs who play under the banner of sponsor ICTSI.
Setting his sights on the P1.4 million top prize, Pagunsan atoned for a three-putt bogey on No. 3 by burying a 12-foot putt for birdie on No. 5. A fine approach on No. 9 left him with a two-footer for another birdie, but he dropped another stroke after missing the green on 15.
Salvador looked every bit like the player who dominated the local tour two years ago with three birdies on the first nine holes.
But he bogeyed Nos. 11 and 12 and then three-putted the 16. He also bogeyed the 18, after his approach shot found the rough.
The scores:
70—J. Pagunsan (34-36); 71—E. Salvador (32-39); 72—C. Santos-Ocampo (35-37), R. Bayron (36-36); 73—J. Balasabas (37-36), A. Lascuña (37-36), A. Fernando (39-34), J. Rates (37-36), R. Pactolerin (35-38); 74—A. Villacencio (38-36), R. Bisera (38-36), C. Casas (35-39), R. Garalde (39-35), A. Murakami (36-38), M. Pucay (39-35), D. Becierra (36-38); 75—J. Bayron (36-39), M. Tabuena (37-38), E. Saban (38-37), O. Sumcad (38-37), A. Que (37-38), R. Bernis (37-38), R. Sinfuego (37-38)