Juvic slips to joint 11th with so-so 71

MANILA, Philippines -  Juvic Pagunsan, slowed down by poor putting, carded an even par 71 and slid down to joint 11th, four strokes behind Siddikur of Bangladesh and Malaysian Ben Leong in the third round of the Brunei Open at the Empire Hotel and Country Club in Bandar Seri Begawan, Bruine yesterday.

Pagunsan, who sizzled with a seven-under 64 to move within three of the lead halfway through the $300,000 event, failed to get going after a birdie on No. 2, settling for two-putt pars the rest of the way against a lone bogey on No. 8.

With an 8-under 205 aggregate, the ace Filipino shotmaker fell four shots behind Siddikur and Leong heading into the last 18 holes of the four-day championship.

Siddikur shot a one-under 70 for a 12-under 201 but found a co-leader in a surging Leong, who matched Pagunsan’s 64 on the second day then added a four-under 67 to force a tie.

Lin Wen-tang of Taiwan fired a 66 to close within one at 202 in a tie with Adam Blyth of Australia (67) and Jbe Kruger of South Africa (68).

The other RP bets hardly made a threat. Mars Pucay moved to joint 40th from 48th with a 211 after a 70 in a tie with Tony Lascuña, who had a 69. Artemio Murakami had a 72 for a 213 in 52nd place while Gerald Rosales (75) and Gene Bondoc (73) stood at 214.