Pagunsan back in race after fiery 64

MANILA, Philippines - Juvic Pagunsan rebounded from a so-so opening stint in the Brunei Open with a stirring seven-under par 64 to leapfrog from joint 38th to a share of fourth halfway through the $300,000 event paced by Bangladeshi Siddikur in Bandar Seri Begawan yesterday.

Pagunsan, who could only churn out a one-under 70 card at the Empire Hotel and Country Club in a day of torrid scoring Thursday, sizzled on his way home at the front, firing a birdie on No. 1 then hitting an eagle on the par-5 No. 2. He actually reached eight-under after back-to-back birdies from No. 5 but dropped a stroke on the eight to settle for 31-34.

He pooled a 134 and joined Malaysia Ben Leong, who matched the Filipino’s 64, in fourth, three strokes behind Siddikur, who shot a 67 for a 131 and a two-shot lead over Adam Groom of Australia (68-133) and erstwhile solo leader Thammanoon Srirot of Thailand, who settled for a 71-133.

It was a big leap indeed for Pagunsan, who is trying to redeem himself from last week’s blunder when he was disqualified, along with two others, in the final round of the ICTSI Del Monte Championship.

Gerald Rosales shot a 70 and safely made the cut at 139 while Gene Bondoc, the top Filipino scorer with a 68 in the first round, limped home with a 73 and barely made it to the weekend play at 141.

Artemio Murakami and Mars Pucay also bounced back to advance with the former firing a 67 after a 74 and the latter matching par 71 for identical 141s while Tony Lascuna made it with a second straight 71 for a 142.