Juvic Pagunsan charges back as Jobim Carlos takes control

BACOLOD, Philippines — It took Juvic Pagunsan 36 holes to re-familiarize himself with the course where he nurtured his game. And when he did, there could be no stopping perhaps the best player Negros has ever produced from marking his return to the Philippine Golf Tour with a victory.

Never mind if he had failed to sustain a six-birdie splurge at the front and stumbled with a second straight bogey on the par-3 No. 13. For his five-under 65 proved enough to put him back in the thick of things, right behind third round leader Jobim Carlos and tied with young Korean ace Kim Joo Hyung.

While Carlos and Kim forged another title duel after figuring in and splitting two championships in the Mindanao swing of the PGT last month, Pagunsan put himself in the mix in his first local tournament in 20 months.

Carlos, seeking a third crown in two months, also used a strong start of four birdies in the first eight holes to cushion the impact of his faltering finish (three bogeys in the last seven), carding a 68 and grabbing the lead with a seven-under 203, just one ahead of Kim, whose bogey-free 68 and a 204 kept the 16-year-old find on course for a second crown after edging Carlos in the Pueblo de Oro Championship last month.

“I was happy to have walked away with the lead, given the tough backnine,” said Carlos, who quickly tied halfway leader Zanieboy Gialon (73-205) with three straight birdies from No. 2. “It was a good thing I got off to a rousing start. Otherwise, I would’ve struggled all day.”

But looming large is Pagunsan, who missed joining Carlos at the helm with a bogey on No. 13, settling for joint second with Kim but earning a coveted spot in the championship flight and a crack at the top P650,000 purse in the event organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

“I was expecting to shoot 8- or 9-under but this is what was given. I’ll just try again tomorrow (today) and hope to finish strong,” said Pagunsan.

Flashing solid shotmaking and iron play, Pagunsan birdied the first three holes then came through with back-to-back feats from No. 5 before closing out the frontside with another birdie. But he slowed down at the back, making three straight pars, dropping a stroke on No. 13 then settling for pars the rest of the way.

But his 65 coupled with Carlos’ wavering finish set the stage for what could be another thrilling windup.

“I want to learn what he (Pagunsan) does in situation like this, when he is behind,” said Carlos of his rare clash with the former Asian Tour No. 1.

Eager to prove his worth, Kim also hopes to get something playing against the veteran Japan PGA Tour campaigner.