Juvic cruises to 4-shot romp

DAVAO, Philippines  – Juvic Pagunsan annexed his fourth leg title on the ICTSI-Philippine Golf Tour with a closing two-under 70 yesterday, completing a wire-to-wire victory over a badly outclassed field that included the country’s finest shotmakers in the ICTSI Apo Golf Invitational at the Apo Golf and Country Club here.

Not even Davaoeño’s Elmer Salvador’s bogey-free eight-under 64 could shake Pagunsan off his lofty perch as the ace shotmaker built a big cushion with a pair of 66s then played just good enough to add another P200,000 to his earnings and his third Apo crown to his trophy cabinet.

Unlike in his first two victories here, however, this one should rank high since he didn’t only humble the cream of the crop with his solid all around game but outclassed them with a 14-under 202.

It was virtually over after 36 holes as Pagunsan took a whopping eight-shot lead over first round co-leader Jhonnel Ababa with Salvador too far behind at 10 adrift to ever mount a serious challenge over the last 18 holes.

Salvador did chop four strokes off Pagunsan’s lead after nine holes with a 32 but ran out of holes and settled for the tournament-best 64 and the runner-up honors worth P120,000 with a 206.

Pagunsan fended off Salvador’s threat with back-to-back birdies from No. 13 for that 70 while the former Philippine Open champion sustained his charge with four birdies at the back, including three straight from No. 16.

Ababa, who nipped Jay Bayron to record his first pro win in the ICTSI Iloilo Golf Challenge last month, shot a 69 and wound up third at 209 worth P65,000.

The win was Pagunsan’s fourth after eight legs of the circuit organized by Pilipinas Golf Tournaments, Inc. and sponsored by International Container Terminal Services, Inc., firming up his claim as the most dominant player on the tour. He earlier topped the Royal Northwoods, Orchard and Eastridge stages of the circuit.

It also more than made up for his final day collapse in the ICTSI Negros Occidental Classic in Bacolod after dumping his caddie early in the round and settling for third place.

The victory also makes him the overwhelming favorite as the tour heads for Bukidnon next week for the ICSI Del Monte Championship.

Teener Miguel Tabuena turned in a second straight 69 and posted his best finish in a young pro career at joint fourth with Davaoeño Elmer Saban, who also made a 69, at 215. Each got P45,000.

Tony Lascuña wound up sixth with a 213 after a 68 while another homegrown bet Ferdie Aunzo shot a 70 and finished tied for seventh with Michael Bibat, who floundered with a 73 for 214.

Ruben Sasutil made a 71 and wound up tied with Danny Zarate (73) and Ramil Bisera (72) for ninth at 215.

The tour’s other big guns finished way below expectations with Asian Tour campaigner Mars Pucay in joint 14th at 218 after a 71, Frankie Miñoza (76) and Cassius Casas (73) in joint 17th at 219, Marvin Dumandan tied for 22nd at 221 after a 71, and Angelo Que, winner of the second leg at ICTSI-Mt. Malarayat, in share of 26th at 222 after a 73.

Rupert Zaragoza, meanwhile, firmed up his claim as the country’s leading amateur as he took the honors with a 221 after a 71, beating Art Arbole, who skied to an 80 for a 229.