Pagunsan takes charge

CARMONA — If Rey Pagunsan had missed the chance to grab the spotlight in earning a conditional status in the Japan PGA Tour through a gruelling qualifier last December, he made sure he would seize the moment in the MRT-Southwoods Open here.

Pagunsan, drawing inspiration from a keenly-awaited stint in the Japanese circuit and cashing in on his familiarity with a course he calls home, fired a sizzling eight-under par 64 yesterday to wrest a three-stroke lead at the start of the P.5 million event kicking off the revival of the local pro golf circuit at the Manila Southwoods’ Masters Course.

With a high level of confidence, Pagunsan, 32, played flawless golf on a hot, windless day as he opened the shotgun-style pro-am event with a birdie on No. 2 from 4 feet. He strung up three straight birdies from No. 4, gunned down back-to-back birdies from No. 8 to go 6-under in just 8 holes.

"Araw-araw talaga akong nagpa-praktis dahil pinaghahandaan ko yung Japan PGA Tour," said Pagunsan, who also shot a 6-under card in his last practice round at the hazard-laden layout Wednesday.

However, Pagunsan’s 8-under effort was made from the blue tees as organizers of the 3-in-1 event, which also includes the seniors division, decided to shorten the original 7225-yard layout to 6613-yard for the two-day pro-am side event.

But all tackled the same distance and Pagunsan just proved to be the most prepared and in tip-top condition among the 64 pros, most of whom are coming off a long layoff due to lack of competitive tournaments last year.

A noted long hitter, the wiry Pagunsan used superb wedge shots to set up birdie-putts from 8-10 feet, reached all but one of the four par-5s in two for tap-in birdies, before capping his solid 29-35 card with a curling 12-footer on No. 1.

"Naunahan kami ni Pagunsan," said Sinfuego, whose 67 stood the second best in an unlikely day of torrid scoring that saw 14 pros turn in under-par round and four others matching par 72.

Cassius Casas, fancied to win the top P100,000 prize in this event sponsored by Metro Rail Transit, Camp John Hay Development Corp., College Assurance Plan and Fil-Estate Group of Companies, recovered from a double-bogey mishap on No. 12 with three straight birdies coming home for a 68.

Other 4-under par scores were Cesar Ababa (34-34) and Tony Lascuna, a former national amateur champion like Pagunsan who dropped two strokes on No. 7 on a double-bogey mishap.

Danny delos Santos stood a shot farther back at 69 while Robert Pactolerin led the 70 scorers, who included Edgar Ababa, Roger Cabajar, Peter Miñoza, Ruben Sasutil and Mars Pucay.

"Bukas, ako naman ang papalo ng 62," said Pactolerin.

"Maganda ang putting at naging medyo madali dahil sa blue tee kami," said Pagunsan, who toiled for 17 days in Japan last December away from the glare of spotlight for the same qualifier which Casas failed to hurdle last year.

First, he made the 3-day first stage by finishing in the top 40, made the top 38 in the 4-day second phase, then advanced to the 6-day final stage by making the top 30.

He could’ve made the top 20 and gained a ticket in the tour proper but faltered in the last two days. He finished tied for 65th among the 90 qualifiers.

He qualified for the Challenge Tour, which is equivalent to the Buy.Com in the US PGA Tour although he is assured of five tournaments in the Japan PGA Tour which starts in March. If he makes the cut in those five events and turn in a couple of impressive finishes, he could gain a regular status.

Meanwhile, pro Rolando Marabe and partner Chito Martinez combined for a 61 in the best-ball pro-am event to share the lead with the De los Santos-Bert Payumo pair while the Ramon Brobio-Toti Carino and Anthony Balan-Danny Ferguson pairs carded identical 62s.