Not even Cassius Casas’ 69 could unsettle Pagunsan as the latter virtually turned the Battle of Midlands to a fight for runner-up honors when he rolled to a four-shot victory despite a closing 74 in the First Gentleman’s Professional Golf Circuit at the Midlands Course here yesterday.
"Mabuti na lang talaga at nagkapuhunan agad. Mahirap talaga umiskor ng under dito ng apat na araw sa hirap ng kondisyon ng course," said Pagunsan, who started the final round five-up over Sasutil and finished the last 18 holes unchallenged.
He won the top P100,000 purse with a 285, the only under-par total submitted in the event sponsored by First Gentleman Mike Arroyo and San Miguel Beer and organized by the Federation of Golf Clubs Phils. Inc.
Sasutil failed to sustain his closing three-birdie string in the third round as the Cangolf pro opened up with bogeys and finished with more for a 76, enabling Casas, firing a 69, to snatch second place with 289. Sasutil settled for a share of third place with 292, the same output put in by Richard Sinfuego (75) and Cookie La’O (75).
It was one of the most-lopsided victories posted in the revival of the pro tour in an event that started with a promise of down-the-wire battle for top honors given the form of the men of the tour following a series of impressive scoring in the southern leg.
In fact, it took Casas six extra holes to dispose of Elmer Salvador in the Del Monte leg last week for his second leg victory, but the dusky shotmaker failed to flash his winning form all week.
So did the rest of the cast as the posh par-72 layout and its tricky putting surface coupled with the prevailing winds here proved too tough a challenge for the competing field as typified by the pros’ horrendous scoring in four days.
That included Pagunsan, who went three-over par in the last two days after scorching the layout with 67 and 70, but those 73, which he spiked with an eagle set up by a lucky bounce on the cart path, and 74 proved ideal under prevailing conditions as most players turned in with even worse scores.
Rodrigo Cuello finished sixth with 293 after a 73 while Tony Lascuna (74) and Roger Cabajar (75) shared seventh place at 294. Two-leg winner Benjie Magada skied to a 77 for ninth in a tie with Danny Zarate, who had a 75 for a 295. Mars Pucay, the other two-leg winner outside of Casas and Magada, finished 11th at 297 after a 71.