Juvic paces MB Indonesian leg by one

MANILA, Philippines - Juvic Pagunsan came out of an overnight rain delay with guns blazing, firing a five-under 31 at the back to complete a sizzling 65 in the second round then shot a three-under 69 in the third to grab a one-stroke lead in the Kariza Indonesia Championship at the Gading Raya Golf Club, outside of Jakarta yesterday.

Pagunsan had a two-under 34 when play was suspended due to heavy rains late Thursday with the Filipino shotmaker making a blistering start at resumption.

He birdied Nos. 10 and 13 then closed out with a three-birdie string for that 65 early morning then resumed his bid with four birdies in the first 10 holes before slowing down with a two-bogey, one-birdie stint the rest of the way.

With another solid 69, the former Asian Tour top rookie swept past the erstwhile frontrunners and took the lead with a 12-under 204 aggregate heading into the last 18 holes of the $50,000 event serving as the third leg of the Mercedes-Benz Tour.

He was a shot clear off Thai Wisut Artjanawat, who had a 205 after a 70 while Jay Bayron, who led in the first round with a 66, slid to joint third with a 207, three shots adrift.

Unlike Pagunsan, Bayron, who was among those stranded in the second round, failed to find his rhythm at resumption, settling for an even par 72 then matched the new leader’s three-under card to stay in the hunt.

Runner-up in the first two legs at Manila Southwoods and in Pattaya, Thailand, Bayron actually bounced back from a slew of pars in the third round with birdies on Nos. 8, 10 and 14 but fumbled with a bogey on the 14th and needed to birdie the final hole to keep himself in contention.

Joining him in third are Thai Panuwat Muenlek (70), and Malaysians M. Sasidaran (68) and Akhmal Tarmizee (65) while Tony Lascuña turned in a 67 for joint 11th at 209. Five players, led by Malaysian Danny Chia (67) stood at 208.