Pagunsan remains a title threat, still trails by 1

HYOGO, Japan—Local hope Masamichi Uehira fired a third round score of six-under-par 65 for a narrow one-shot lead over Filipino sensation Juvic Pagunsan at the Asia-Pacific Panasonic Open on Saturday.

It was Uehira’s best score of the week as he returned with 14-under-par 199 but has nine players who are within four shots off the pace at the 150 million Yen (approximately $1.9 million) event sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Japan Golf Tour.

Pagunsan, the reigning Asian Tour number one, was leading for most of the round but dropped bogeys on 13 and 15 to settle for 67 at  Higashi Hirono Golf Club.

Japanese Tomohiro Kondo, Koumei Oda and Masahiro Kawamura were a further shot back while overnight leader Hiroyuki Fujita posted a 70 to share sixth place on 202.

Wu Ashun (67) of China, who played on the Asian Tour in 2008 and 2009, and Darren Beck (70) of Australia both shot hole-in-ones on No. 7 and No. 11 to lie four shots back.
Uehira, who has yet to win on the Japan Golf Tour, surprised even himself when he jumped into the lead courtesy of a sharp shooting iron play and two closing birdies.

Pagunsan, who is aiming to end a five-year title drought on the Asian Tour,  held a three-shot lead before wobbling in the last six holes.

“When I see the leaderboard it really doesn’t matter if I’m one behind or one ahead,” said Pagunsan.”  There’s still one more day and anything can happen. It only matters what happens on the last day,” he added.

Beck, whose game has improved since going for yoga lessons, went three-over for the day at the turn until his five-iron tee shot rolled into the par three 11th hole for his first ace in a tournament. He added two birdies on 13 and 18.

“It was a great shot. I haven’t been putting well so I wanted something close to tap in,” said Beck, winner of the 2009 Brunei Open on the Asian Tour.

“It came off nice and I couldn’t see where it landed but you could tell from the reaction of the crowd. It was a bonus and I needed it. It came at the right time.”