Juvic Pagunsan will have all the motivation—not to mention momentum—when he sets out for the elusive Solaire Philippine Open crown against a stellar international field starting Wednesday at The Country Club in Laguna.
By dominating the ICTSI Riviera Challenge in his very first Philippine Golf Tour Asia foray last Saturday, Pagunsan will be bringing in all the confidence he needs to the $500,000 event as he guns to win the only local crown that has eluded him all these years.
“This [win] is a big boost heading to the Open,” said the soft-spoken Pagunsan after beating fellow Japan PGA Tour campaigner Angelo Que by seven shots at Riviera.
Without the injured Tabuena, observers note Pagunsan will have one less chief rival in his pursuit for a first ever Open diadem, although Que will be there to shoot for a second championship along with the other local top guns.
A banner foreign field is also entered with countries like Australia, the United States, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Colombia, Macedonia, the Netherlands, Indonesia, India, England and Canada represented.
“Winning your National Open again is always special,” said Que, who won his at Wack Wack in 2008.
Defending champion Miguel Tabuena pulled out last week because of a back injury.