Pagunsan virtual champ with nine-stroke lead

CAGAYAN DE ORO – Juvic Pagunsan made it clear he meant serious business when he shot a mind-boggling 31 in the back nine en route to a four-under-par 68 that sent him storming ahead by nine strokes after the penultimate round of the Samsung Amateur Golf Tour at the Pueblo de Oro Golf and Country Club course here.

After dropping behind with bogeys on the first and fourth holes, the Philippine Open runner-up went on a birdie spree on his next 14 where he made seven to finish with a 54-hole aggregate of 214, two-under-par.

Pagunsan’s spectacular game left the hometown bets gasping for breath as first-round leader Paul Miñoza, just one down when he teed off, suddenly found himself falling behind by nine shots going into today’s last 18 holes.

Miñoza, who teamed up with brother Raul to win the National Pro-Am crown at Riviera two years ago, got dazed by Pagunsan’s barrage of back-nine birdies. He shot a 76 for 223, a stroke ahead of younger brother Ben who had a 75-224.

Aside from putting a virtual lock on the title, the round somehow did a lot for Pagunsan’s confidence as he was still smarting from a disastrous stint in the Philippine Amateur last month at Villamor where a dismal round 84 made him a cutoff victim.

"Malaking bagay (It’s really something for my confidence)," said the veteran national player who started his bid with rounds of 73 and 72.

The tourney is co-sponsored by Tokyo Tokyo, Gatorade, Adidas Taylor Made, KZG by Custom Clubmakers, Pink Patio Boracay, Coppertone Sport, Rogin-E and Philippine Airlines as the official carrier. Killer-Bee, Jam 88.3, Wave 89.1, Magic 89.9, 99.5 RT and 103.5 K-Lite are media partners.

The Miñozas and the rest of the Del Monte crew, who upset Pagusan and his Canlubang team in last month’s Philippine Airlines Interclub, will now hope for a miracle to overturn the imposing deficit.

Lino Retuerto was fourth at 227, Joel Opaco was at 228, Louie Dacudao and defending champion Tristan Tabanas was tied at 231 with Artemio Murakami, Boboy Jaraula 232, Ondoy Mondilla 233 and Tommy Tabanas 235.

Tristan Tabanas shot his best round so far in three days of 73.

In men’s Class B, Melanio Siao showed the way with a 77, followed by Roy Tancinco (78) and Hector San Juan (79).

The top two winners in each division will qualify for next year’s national grand finals where the multi-titled Pagunsan is among the defending champions. They will also receive a television set and DVD player.