Pagunsan coasts to ICTSI crown

MURCIA, Negros Occidental—Juvic Pagunsan picked up an easy win ahead of Father’s Day, outclassing a crack international field Saturday in a whopping seven-stroke victory over Rufino Bayron in the P2.5 million ICTSI Bacolod Golf Challenge.

Four shots ahead of Bayron and Marcos Pastor at the start of the final round, Pagunsan actually staggered with a one-over card after six holes, enabling the Spanish ace to pull within one with birdies on Nos. 2 and 5.

But Pagunsan quickly put an end to their threat as he rediscovered his touch, rattling off three straight birdies from No. 7 to go three-up again on Pastor before putting the outcome beyond doubt with a birdie on the 12th and another three-birdie binge from No. 14.

“I was nervous at the start but after I birdied No. 7, I regained my confidence and got my game back,” said Pagunsan, who finished with a 20-under 260 that included 68 and 65 in the first two rounds before seizing firm control with a 63 on Friday.

The victory was worth P450,000 for Pagunsan.