Juvic fires record 63, wins by 5

D ASMARIÑAS, Cavite, Philippines  – Juvic Pagunsan put on a show only a player of his caliber could dish out  a course-record, eagle-aided, bogey-free 63 giving him an emphatic five-stroke victory over Elmer Salvador in the P2.5 million ICTSI Orchard Golf Championship here yesterday.

Pagunsan went on an attack mode early, making a 3 on the par-5 No. 2 and birdying four of the next six holes to overhaul a four-shot deficit and tie Salvador, firing a 34, at the turn. He sustained his form and rammed in three more at the back then watched the erstwhile leader flounder with two bogeys to turn what seemed to be a down-to-the-wire finish into a rout.

His mind-boggling 63 at the Orchard’s Palmer course gave him a 54-hole total of 15-under 201, beating Salvador by five and pocketing the top P450,000 purse, the richest ever staked in the four-year circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc.

“I’m proud of my performance because this is definitely one of my best since I turned pro,” said Pagunsan, an outstanding amateur who joined big-time golf in 2006, in Filipino.

The nine-under card erased the previous course mark of 65 set by Swede Robert Karlsson in the 1995 Johnnie Walker Classic won by Fred Couples and matched by Salvador in the second round Thursday that put the latter three shots ahead of Tony Lascuña and four up on Pagunsan with 18 holes to go.

But Salvador, the former Philippine Open champion and 2009 ICTSI-PGT Order of Merit winner, lost his rhythm, poise and the lead in the face of Pagunsan’s fiery charge, falling behind by one after dropping a shot on the 10th and holing out with another bogey for a 72 and 206. He took home P320,000.

“I tried my best to hold on to the lead and maybe just keep up with him but he (Pagunsan) just came up with a strong effort,” said Salvador in Filipino.

Lascuña, three shots behind Salvador after 36 holes, birdied the 18th for a 71 and nipped Frankie Miñoza for third place honors at 208 worth P210,000. Miñoza, a former two-time Phl Open champion and first day joint leader, made a 69 and placed fourth at 209 worth P110,000 in the event backed by MJ Carr Golf Management, Inc., Srixon, Callaway, Unilab, Titleist, Sharp, Custom Clubmakers, Mizuno, PinoyGolfer.com, Inquirer Golf, A Round of Golf, Studio 23, Balls, and Dynamic Sports.

Orlan Sumcad also turned in one of his best finishes at No. 5, shooting a 70 for a 211, so did Gerald Rosales, another former Phl Open winner, who also carded a 70 for joint sixth with first day co-leader Jhonnel Ababa, who also made a 70, for 212s.

Anthony Fernando struggled with a 73 and wound up solo eighth at 213 while teener Miguel Tabuena, who made a 71, and Gene Bondoc, who shot a 73, finished tied for ninth at 214.

Zanie Boy Gialon, playing out of the ICTSI-The Country Club team, took the low amateur honors with a 215 after a 75 for joint 11th place with Michael Bibat, who had a 73, Ferdie Aunzo, who fired a 71, and Ross Bain, who shot a 70.

Jay Bayron, runner-up in last week’s Phl Open at Wack Wack and one of the fancied bets here, struggled with a 73 and wound up joint 15th at 216 with Charles Hong (69), Al Cruz (73), Angelo Que (74) and Antonio Asistio II (76).

But the day simply belonged to Pagunsan, who had been wanting to showcase the same fiery form in last week’s Philippine Open where he stumbled from joint ninth to a share of 22nd with a closing 78.

While the eagle – an eight-foot putt set up by a superb 6-iron shot from 192 yards – set the tone for his scorching comeback, it was on the backside when Pagunsan felt he was in a zone.

“After the first nine holes, I knew I’m unstoppable because I got this positive thinking that I can hit all the shots I want,” he said.

Pagunsan, who also romped away with ICTSI-PGT’s kickoff leg crown at Royal Northwoods last March, actually took a gamble in attacking the par-72 layout in a bid to overhaul Salvador’s big lead.

It paid off as he birdied Nos. 3, 5, 6 and 8 before adding three more on Nos. 11, 14 and 18.

“It has been my style to gamble and go all out when I’m trailing going into the last day and I’m glad it paid off,” said Pagunsan.