Juvic cards 65, trails Thai by 1

MANILA, Philippines - Juvic Pagunsan fired a bogey-free five-under par 65 to trail Thai Pattaraphol Khanthacha by one stroke halfway through the $60,000 Mercedes-Benz Masters Thailand in Phuket, Thailand yesterday.

Pagunsan, who already had two top 10 finishes on the Mercedes Tour this year, pooled a 36-hole aggregate of 131 after an opening 66 as he stayed within striking distance of Khanthacha, who shot a second straight 65 for a 130.

Thailand’s Wisut Artjanawat and Lam Chih Bing from Singapore were at 133 after identical 68s.

Jay Bayron was the next best Filipino bet although he stood eight shots off the pace at 138 after a 67.