Pagunsan cooks up another hot start

MANILA—Juvic Pagunsan continued to flaunt mean form, firing a four-under-par 68 in rainy weather to seize a share of the first round lead with Miguel Tabuena yesterday in the rain-interrupted $50,000 ICTSI-Mt. Malarayat Championship at the Mt. Malarayat Golf and Country Club in Lipa City.

Already a three-time winner in the young season, the 33-year-old Pagunsan and the young rookie Tabuena took a one-shot lead over Thai veteran Panuwat Muenlek in the event which serves as the second leg of the Asean Golf Tour.

The first round, originally scheduled Wednesday, was rained out and organizers were trying to make the field complete two rounds yesterday.

With the possibility of all 90 players not finishing 36 holes, play will resume early today with third round action to follow later.

Tour rookie Jessie Balasabas, the former Philippine team mainstay playing his fourth pro event, was tied with three Filipinos, three Thais and Dutch expatriate Guido Van Der Valk at 70.

Antonio Lascuña, the former The Country Club winner and Asian Tour regular like Pagunsan, also shot a 70 like Mars Pucay and Gene Bondoc.

Khrongpha Thanyakon, Prathummanee Atthaphon and Apichart Papitak were the Thais who returned 70s as the field took advantage of the lift-clean-and-place rule enforced after overnight rains softened the well-manicured course which hosted the Philippine Open in 2005 and 2009.

Joenard Rates, Arnold Villacencio and Elmer Saban matched par like Supravee Phatam and Ekkalak Waisayangkul of Thailand in the event sponsored by International Container Terminal Services Inc.

Pagunsan is clearly the man to beat after scoring a come-from-behind victory two weeks ago in Cavite in the Orchard leg before winning again in the same manner the following week in Binangonan, Rizal, in the Eastridge Challenge.

Marvin Dumandan, the man Pagunsan beat at Eastridge, closed out with birdies on Nos. 8 and 9 for a 73 to remain in the hunt along with former PH Open champion Robert Pactolerin, Jhonnel Ababa, Anthony Fernando and Thai Pornpong Phatlum.

Firing 74s were Randy Garalde, Ernie Rellon, Mhark Fernando, Ferdie Aunzo, Antolin Fernando and Michael Bibat, the former Asian Games bronze medalist still looking to make an impact as a pro.

Elmer Salvador, the 2009 winner of the Open here, still couldn’t do better than a 75 despite a closing eagle on No. 9 while Jay Bayron, who had three runner-up finishes in last year’s Asean circuit, wavered in his homeward trip at the front and wound up with a 39 for a 76.