Pagunsan just 2 strokes off Japan Open lead
JUVIC Pagunsan highlighted the day’s best round of 1-under-par 70 with an eagle to move into a tie for second place after three rounds of the ¥200,000,000 (about $2.5M or P104M) Japan Open in Okinawa yesterday.
The reigning Asian Order of Merit champion had a 54-hole total of 218, just two strokes behind Japan’s Tetsui Hiratsuka going into the last round of one of the Japan Golf Tour’s richest tournament with a top prize of ¥40,000,000 (about $508,400 or P21M) at the par-71 Naha Golf Club.
Angelo Que, competing in the $750,000 Venetian Macau Open, also remained a title threat as he moved up to third, four strokes behind pacesetter Gaganjeet Bhullar of India, with a three-round 204 aggregate after a 70.
Antonio Lascuña, runner-up in the Mercuries Taiwan Masters late last month, rallied with a 66 and joined a two-way tie for 10th place at 206.
Pagunsan, who had earlier rounds of 76-72, eagled the par-5 No. 6 after a birdie-bogey start for a 34 on the front nine. But bogeys on No. 12 and 18 cost him a chance to tie Hiratsuka, who had a 73 for 216.
The Filipino ace, who opted to concentrate on the more lucrative Japan Tour this season, was tied for second with Koumei Oda, who carded a 72.
After sizzling rounds of 68-66, Que somewhat cooled off in the third round, carding a 37 coming out before he caught fire with three birdies on his first four holes on the back for his 70.
He actually improved a notch from fourth although Bhullar seemed in complete control as he added a 69 to earlier rounds of 63-68 for a 200 aggregate. Thitiphun Choayprakong held second at 202 after another 69.
The four other Filipinos who made the cut at the Macau Golf and Country Club were way down in the standings.
Jonel Ababa carded a 70 for 213 and was in a big logjam for 47th place. Miguel Tabuena (73) stood at 214 while Elmer Salvador (75) and Michael Bibat (73) were tied at 216. Asian Tour News
