Juvic is top rookie, earns stint in US PGA

Though he failed to complete what could’ve been one of the most stirring victories by a rookie on the Asian Tour, Juvic Pagunsan still emerged a winner after he secured the Rookie of the Year honor after his eye-popping runner-up finish in the $2-million UBS Hong Kong Open in Hong Kong Sunday.

As the tour’s top rookie, Pagunsan gets the rare chance to play in the US PGA Tour’s Sony Open in Hawaii in January 2007. Newly crowned Asian Tour’s UBS Order of Merit winner Jeev Milkha Singh, who leads with a record haul of $573,442, is also exempted into the event.

The 28-year-old Pagunsan, whose lean frame belies his power off the tee, pushed Spaniard Jose Manuel Lara all the way at the Hong Kong Golf Club, taking the lead twice down the straight, before losing by one stroke.

A cheque of $222,220 (P11.1 million) propelled Pagunsan to a high of seventh place on the latest UBS Order of Merit from as low as No. 52 with a season’s haul of $288,794, good enough to see him claim one of the top awards offered on the Asian Tour every year with one tournament left on the calendar.

His closest rival for the rookie award, Yasin Ali of England, failed to make the cut in Hong Kong and stood at 31st place on the ranking heading to the season-ending Volvo Masters of Asia in Bangkok next month.

"This is fantastic news," said Pagunsan. "I’m really happy to win the Rookie of the Year title and this is a great moment for me. It’s been a really good year and hopefully there will be many more."

Pagunsan, who enjoyed a stellar amateur career before turning professional early in the year, lived up to his tag as one of Asia’s rising stars with a confident display of shotmaking during the heat of battle in Hong Kong. With his fluid golf swing and a cheery disposition, Pagunsan was quickly embraced as a fan favorite among the large galleries.

Only a bogey on No. 16, which Lara birdied, proved to be the difference but Pagunsan just took the loss in stride, saying his time will come. "I’m really happy with my runner-up finish. It wasn’t my tournament to win, it was Lara’s time," said Pagunsan, who now has four top 10 finishes.

"I hit a bad drive on the 16th and my second shot from a heavy rough didn’t come out. I’m really happy I played well and there are many more tournaments to come for me. This is a good tournament. I have a lot of confidence now," he said. — Dante Navarro